WISE - - UVa-Wise softball split a pair of games with the University of Charleston Saturday afternoon. In a nine inning game one, the Cavaliers fell 4-3 and rallied in game two for a 4-0 shutout of the Golden Eagles.
The Cavaliers (17-11, 6-6 MEC) pushed two runs across home plate in the bottom of the third frame to gain an early 2-0 lead. Ava Hockey singled to get on base and then advanced to third on a Taylor Creasey single to right field. An RBI single by Alexis Miles would score Hockey to put the Cavs on the board. Bridget Henzel would then double down the right field line to score Miles. UVa-Wise would leave two stranded going into the fourth inning.
Charleston (17-13, 5-8 MEC) responded in the top of the fourth with a leadoff homer off the bat of Haleigh Christophe. The Golden Eagles would score again with a sacrifice bunt by Siarra Harrington pushing across Julia DeSalvo to knot the game at 2-2.
UVa-Wise regained the lead in the home half of the sixth when Madison David singled up the middle to score Nikki Smith for a 3-2 Cavalier advantage.
The Golden Eagles' Ansley Warner would cross home plate on an error to tie the game up again, 3-3, in the top of the seventh.
UVa-Wise would get a hit and leave one stranded in the bottom of the seventh frame as the teams entered into extra innings.
Charleston scored its winning run in the top of the ninth when Christophe singled to left field, scoring Martin to give the Golden Eagles a 4-3 game one win.
Miles went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI while Hockey was 2-for-3 with a run.
Taylor Brandts fell to 9-5 with the loss, twirling nine innings and surrendering 11 hits with six strikeouts.
Mickaela Brown (1-0) earned her first win of the season for Charleston as she allowed six hits and fanned three.
The Cavs had a strong showing in their game two shutout with four runs on 10 hits and no errors.
UVa-Wise struck early to take a 1-0 lead over Charleston in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, Zoe Millard singled through the right side to score Creasey.
The Cavs collected three more runs in the home half of the fourth frame. Creasey singled to get on first base before Miles hit a two-run homer to extend the Cavs lead. With Henzel on first and Kaylee Jones on second, Samantha Ely knocked a single down the left field line allowing Jones to advance to third and then cross home plate on the throw to give UVa-Wise the 4-0 win.
Miles went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI in game two. Creasey was 1-for-3 with two runs in the Cavalier win.
Spencer improved to 3-4 on the season with a solid performance, scattering three hits and fanning six in a complete game effort.
Carlee Lucas (9-6) took the loss for the Golden Eagles as she tossed the first inning and allowed three hits.
UVa-Wise will have another home conference matchup against Concord University on Wednesday, April 4. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Cavalier Field.
