WISE - - Bullpen and defensive woes proved too difficult to overcome Sunday as UVa-Wise dropped its Mountain East Conference and home opener by scores of 10-6 and 11-6 to West Liberty University.

West Liberty (5-5, 2-0 MEC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in its first trip to the plate in game one. Shortstop Ethan Estes got the Hilltoppers on the board when he singled home Vincent Haddox. West Liberty missed a chance to put up a crooked number as the 'Toppers loaded the bases with one out but, UVa-Wise starter Trevor Nevill was able to induce an inning ending double play to end the threat.

UVa-Wise (3-12, 0-2 MEC) would be unable to crack West Liberty starter Justin Retzer over the game's first three innings. The starter did not allow a hit and faced just one over the minimum through the first three frames.

While Retzer was posting zeros, West Liberty added to its lead in the top of the fourth. Dalton Davis produced an RBI groundout before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Nolan Marcus made the score 3-0.

The Cavaliers finally got to Retzer in the home half of the frame. Redshirt junior Brett Yates walked and moved to second on a base hit by Dawson Cagle to put the tying run on. A ground ball double play moved Yates to third with two away but, sophomore Matthew Branham laced an 0-2 pitch up the middle to make the score 3-1.

After a balk put Branham in scoring position, Tyler Blaum plated the outfielder with a run-scoring hit.

The momentum was short lived as West Liberty took advantage of an error while lining five hits in a seven-run fifth frame. The big blow came on Haddox's three-run homer down the left field line which made the game 10-2.

Hank Banner's club would battle back in the seventh as Timmy Meador lined an RBI single, Yates tallied an RBI ground out and Cagle belted a two-run homerun but it would not be enough as the 'Toppers claimed the 10-6 win.

Retzer improved to 2-1 with the mound win as he scattered three hits while striking out three and walking two in five innings of work.

Nevill dropped to 0-3 on the year as he allowed seven runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 innings of work. The left-hander struck out five against three walks in his home debut.

The UVa-Wise bullpen was charged with four runs in 2 1/3 innings of work and did not record a strikeout.

Cagle was the only Cav to have a multi-hit game as he finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and his two-run homer. Yates scored a pair of runs and added an RBI without recording a hit in the contest.

Haddox led West Liberty as he went 3-for4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Coby Eckstein, Chad Matthus and Ramsay also had two hits each.

Defense was costly for UVa-Wise in the opening stages of game two. West Liberty struck for two unearned runs on a pair of errors.

From there, starter Greg Duncan would keep the 'Toppers in check as he would allow just one hit over his next three innings of work to keep his team in the game.

Duncan's offense supplied some power in the home third as Meador blasted a three-run homer as part of a four-run frame to give the hosts their first lead of the day at 4-2.

Defensive woes would once again plague UVa-Wise in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff walk and a double, the Cavs committed an error allowing a run to score, making it a 4-3 contest.

After a sacrifice fly tied the game, the Cavs were on the cusp of getting out of the frame but an error would allow two more runs to score, giving the guests a lead they would not relinquish.

West Liberty added to its 6-4 lead in the sixth with four runs off the UVa-Wise bullpen. Haddox lined his second homer of the day to lead off the inning before Eckstein, Estes and Colby Coss produced run-scoring hits.

Trailing 10-4, the Cavs got within slam range on Brock Smith's two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth; the homer was the first of Smith's UVa-Wise career.

Once more the bullpen was unable to hold the score as an Eckstein RBI single pushed the lead back to five at 11-6 and provide the winning margin.

Logan Grimm earned the win in relief for West Liberty as he struck out four in 3 1/3 innings of work. Greg Duncan (1-2) was the tough luck loser as he allowed six runs (two earned) in five innings of action. The sophomore surrendered five hits while striking out four and walking four.

Branham and Yates had two hits apiece to lead the Cavs while Justice Jackson and Estes tallied three hits each for the 'Toppers.

UVa-Wise will be back in action Monday against Wheeling Jesuit University, first pitch of that doubleheader is slated for 12 p.m.