CLARKSBURG, W.Va. - - Sophomore RJ Vanvickle tied a career-high with six strikeouts to aid UVa-Wise to a 4-2 win in the opener before Dawson Cagle homered and knocked in a pair as part of a 5-2 win in the finale as UVa-Wise swept Alderson Broaddus in a non-conference baseball action Monday afternoon.
In the opener, UVa-Wise (3-8) struck for two runs in the top of the first as senior Brock Smith singled home Gabe Wurtz and Tyler Blaum. In the third, the Cavaliers tacked on another run thanks to an error as Blaum scored all the way from first base on an errant throw.
Vanvickle would make the run support hold as he scattered three hits and walked two over 5 1/3 innings of work. The right-hander fanned six to match his career high and did not allow a run until the sixth inning when Alderson Broaddus (1-6) got back in the game.
An RBI single by Tylyn James made it a 3-1 game before the deficit was cut to a run when Chasen Claus' RBI groundout made it a 3-2 affair.
Jordon Turner delivered an insurance run with an RBI single in the top of the seventh to pave the way for the 4-2 triumph.
The mound win was the first of the year for Vanvickle who is now 1-0, Nate Thompson earned his first save of 2019 by tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
David Thomas was the lone Cavalier to finish with multiple hits, the senior went 2-for-3 in the win while Blaum scored a pair of runs.
Game two saw Alderson Broaddus jump out to a 2-0 lead after a pair of runs in the second inning only to see UVa-Wise bounce back with three of their own a half inning later.
Brett Yates, Blaum and Cagle would all have an RBI in the inning to give the Cavs a 3-2 lead; it would be a lead they would not relinquish.
After Trevor Neville tossed a perfect third inning, Hank Banner's team played add-on as Wurtz plated Thomas with a run-scoring hit in the fourth before Cagle blasted a solo homer in the fifth.
The relief trio of Nevill, Devan Matthis and Jake Osburn would pitch five innings of scoreless relief while allowing just three hits and striking out three to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Osburn was credited with the save after pitching two innings, allowing a single hit and a walk while striking out one. It was his first save of the season.
As a team, the Cavs lined 11 hits with Bret Roberts and Wurtz have two hits each.
With the sweep, UVa-Wise is now on a three-game winning streak. The team will be back in action this weekend at Virginia State.
