WISE - - UVa-Wise softball swept King University in its home opener Tuesday night. The Cavaliers earned a 3-0 victory in game one and a 5-4 win in game two against the Tornado.

Freshman Kaylee Jones had a big game for UVa-Wise (3-1) going 2-for-3 with run and three RBI. Jones notched her first RBI in the bottom of the first inning as she doubled to score senior Samantha Ely.  The Coeburn, Va. product delivered the knockout blow in the fifth when the first homer of her collegiate career, a two-run blast, scored Ely.

With two on base in the top of the seventh, senior pitcher Taylor Brandts managed to strike out two batters to leave the Tornado (1-5) runners stranded and give the Cavs the first win of the day. Taylor Brandts (1-1) was the winning pitcher for the Cavaliers allowing just four hits and tossing 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work.

King's Rachel Farmer fell to 1-4 in the loss scattering four hits, while allowing three runs.

In game two of the doubleheader, King jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning after the Tornado's Hannah Riddle hit a home run to centerfield to score Candace Maness who was hit by a pitch to leadoff the game.

The Cavs were able to respond scoring a run in each of the next two innings. Junior Lucindy Lawson would clock a homer to centerfield to score in the bottom of the second inning to put the score at 2-1. In the home half of the third inning, Ely flied out left field on a sacrifice to score senior Zoe Millard to tie up the game 2-2.

King would score again in the top of the sixth to temporarily take a 3-2 lead when the Tornado's Maness singled to score Erin Roper for an unearned run.

The Cavs would rally in the bottom of the sixth when a single up the middle by junior Shannon Bennett allowed Lawson to advance to second. Senior Monica Brandts would get to first on a hit by pitch, loading the bases. Freshman Madison David would double to send home Bennett and Lawson to give the Cavs a 4-3 lead.

Millard would then hit a single to score Monica Brandts and give UVa-Wise a 5-3 lead heading into the last inning.

Taylor Brandts would re-enter the lineup for the Cavs allowing just one hit that resulted in a home run for King to put the score at 5-4. Taylor Brandts would strike out three more hitters to earn the save and give the Cavs a sweep of the Tornado.

Sophomore Raychel Lapallo (1-0) would get the win for the Cavs in game two scattering eight hits with three runs in six innings. Taylor Brandts earned the save (1) by shutting the door to complete the sweep.

King's Emma Hughes (0-1) would pick up the loss for the Tornado allowing 10 hits and five earned runs.

UVa-Wise will return to action on Saturday, February 24 as the Cavs take on Mars Hill College at noon and Francis Marion at 4 p.m. on the road.