MARS HILL, N.C.  - -  A late comeback bid came up short for the UVa-Wise baseball team Tuesday afternoon as the team dropped a 12-8 decision to host Mars Hill. The Cavaliers had the tying run at the plate in the ninth with nobody out but, a hard line drive off the bat of Jordon Turner turned into the first triple play the program has hit into in the last 30 years, allowing the Lions to claim the non-conference victory.

UVa-Wise (10-16) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Brock Smith lined a two-run single. The hit was the seventh consecutive for the junior who had a 6-for-6 day in his team's previous doubleheader.

Mars Hill (12-20-1) responded with a run in the home first as Cody Cline led off with a triple before later scoring.

The score would remain unchanged until the Lions offense scored eight times in the home third. In the big inning, the hosts took advantage of three errors and a wild pitch while lining five hits.

The 9-2 deficit would prove to be too much to overcome for Hank Banner's team but, UVa-Wise would not go down without a fight.

The Cavs plated three runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 10-5 only to see the Lions push across a pair of runs in the seventh to make it a 12-5 game.

In the ninth frame, Stuart Paz walked before back-to-back walks to Ryan Patrick and Timmy Meador loaded the bases. Smith would then walk to record his third RBI of the day before David Thomas lined a two-RBI double in the gap to make it a 12-8 contest.

When Matthew Branham walked to once again load the bases, Turner stepped to the plate as the tying the run. The sophomore hit the ball on the screws but, right at the Lions' shortstop  which started the game-ending 6-4-3 triple play.

Brett Yates and Paz had two hits each while Smith tallied three RBI in the loss. Danny Vitello had a 3-for-4 day with four RBI in the win.

UVa-Wise will be back in action Saturday when the team kicks off a four-game series at home against Mountain East Conference foe Glenville State College.