HICKORY, N.C. - - UVa-Wise softball split a pair of games against No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne Friday afternoon. The Cavs dropped game one in five innings, 9-1, and rallied from behind for a 6-3 victory over the Bears in game two.
A seven-run inning for the Bears in the bottom of the fifth would put away game one for Lenior-Rhyne.
The Bears scored first in the home half of the first inning on a homer to left field to take a 1-0 lead with a pair of hits and one runner left on base.
Junior Julia Hoy responded with a two-out blast to left field to knot the game in the top of the second, 1-1.
Into the top of the third, sophomore Kaylee Jones doubled to left center before advancing to third on a ground out to the shortstop by senior Lucindy Lawson. With two outs already, a fly out to left field left one runner on base going into the bottom of the third.
Lenoir-Rhyne pushed one more across in the third on an RBI single down the left field line but would leave bases loaded to end the inning, leading the Cavs 2-1 entering into the top of the fourth.
Both teams would go three up, three down in the fourth inning as UVa-Wise looked to score in the top of the fifth. The Cavs would load the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth but the third out at home plate would leave the Cavs without a run in the inning.
The Bears pulled away for the win in the bottom of the fifth starting with a leadoff homer. Lenoir-Rhyne's Swain pushed the lead to 7-1 on a grand slam to center field before a throwing error and groundout extended the Bears advantage to 9-1 as Lenoir-Rhyne took the first game of the day.
Hoy went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run while Smith, Jones, and senior Ava Hockey each recorded a hit in the game.
Junior Raychel Lapallo (1-1) took the loss for UVa-Wise allowing seven hits and fanning one in 4 1/3 innings inside the circle.
The Bears' Emily Kenley (2-2) picked up the win scattering four hits with five strikeouts across five innings.
Lenoir-Rhyne opened game two pushing a pair of runs across home plate for an early 2-0 lead over the Cavs.
Smith's single down the left field line placed her on first as sophomore Casey Chambers entered the lineup as a pinch hitter with two outs, scoring Smith on an RBI-double to left center field.
Sophomore Kailyn Spencer drilled a homer to left field to knot the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth. With the game still tied in the top of the fifth, the Cavs plated three more to extend the lead to 5-2. Chambers leadoff double followed by a single to center field off the bat of Jones placed UVa-Wise in scoring position. With two outs, sophomore Alexis Miles hit a three-run blast to center field to give the Cavs the lead.
Lenoir-Rhyne put another run on the board in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI-single to center field cutting the Cavs lead to two runs, 5-3.
In the top of the seventh with two outs, Miles walked on to first before a double to right field off the bat of Hoy plated the sophomore to push the advantage to 6-3 heading into the bottom of the inning.
A trio of groundouts would wrap up the second game of the day as the Cavs rallied to a 6-3 victory over the Bears.
Miles and Spencer each had a huge game for the Cavs with Miles going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and three RBI while Spencer was 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI. Chambers also went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI and a pair of doubles.
Spencer (3-0) secured the win in a complete game effort, scattering seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.
The Bears' Parks fell to 2-2 with the loss as she gave up four runs on six hits and fanned four in 4 1/3 innings inside the circle.
Softball returns to action next weekend participating in the Bearcat Round Robin tournament with games against Limestone College and Lander University Saturday and Sunday.
