WISE - - UVa-Wise begins conference play in the state of Pennsylvania this weekend. Both West Liberty University and Wheeling Jesuit University deemed their fields unplayable, forcing both series to be moved to Washington, Pa., home of the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Hank Banner's team begins Mountain East Conference action Saturday with a doubleheader against West Liberty, first pitch is set for 3 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend with a doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit Sunday.
Live stat links are available for both games of the doubleheader with the Hilltoppers and Cardinals at uvawisecavs.com Fans can follow @UVaWiseCavs and @UVaWiseScores on Twitter for up-to-date information and in-game updates.
Schedule / Game Day Links
Saturday, March 16 – 3 p.m. vs. West Liberty at Washington, Pa.
Live Stats
Saturday, March 16 – 5:30 p.m. vs. West Liberty at Washington, Pa.
Live Stats
Sunday, March 17 – 6 p.m. vs. Wheeling Jesuit at Washington, Pa.
Live Stats
Sunday, March 17 – 8:30 p.m. vs. Wheeling Jesuit at Washington, Pa.
Live Stats
About UVa-Wise
- A pair of juniors have led the way for the Cavaliers in the early going. Catcher Tyler Blaum leads the team and is second in the MEC in batting average (.431); the Mechanicsville, Va. native enters the weekend on a 10-game hitting streak. On the mound, right-hander Greg Duncan is off to a fast start. Duncan recently tallied his 100th career strikeout in a win at Virginia State. The hurler is 2-0 on the season and has struck out 32 hitters against six walks in 22 2/3 innings of work to begin the season.
- After a slow start, UVa-Wise has lined at least eight hits in five consecutive games. The stretch includes a 21-hit outburst at Mars Hill which has allowed the team to raise its team batting average to .273 on the season.
- Pitching has been the key to team success for UVa-Wise. In five of the Cavaliers' six wins, opponents have scored just two runs each game. Overall, UVa-Wise is allowing 2.7 runs per game in wins and 7.4 runs per game in losses.
- Senior David Thomas carries a team-best 14-game hitting streak into the weekend. The outfielder has scored at least one run in four consecutive games and is hitting .360 on the season.
- Sophomore Ethan Fletcher is developing into a dual threat for coach Hank Banner. The Louisa, Va. product belted the first homer of his UVa-Wise career at Mars Hill and boasts a .333 average in 12 at bats. Overall, three of his four hits have gone for extra bases while having knocked in four runs at the plate. On the mound, the right-hander has a sub 1.00 WHIP (0.99) while posting a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/3 innings of action. Having made five appearances with one start, opponents are hitting just .229 off of Fletcher.
- After a solid freshman campaign, sophomore Jake Osburn appears to be making the next step on the mound. Osburn is 1-0 with a save in five appearances that has spanned 14 innings of work. Over those innings, he has walked just two hitters while holding opponents to a .259 average.
- Following the trip to Pennsylvania, UVa-Wise will finally return home, albeit briefly for four games, next weekend against Notre Dame College and Urbana. When the season opening road trip concludes, the Cavs will have played 21 consecutive games away from Stallard Field and 25 of their first 29.
Notes on West Liberty
- The 'Toppers stopped a season-opening 11-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Sunday. Sam Aulick earned the mound win by firing a complete game six hitter. After a shaking outing in his first collegiate appearance, the freshman has surrendered just three earned runs over his last 12 1/3 innings of work while striking out 10 over the stretch.
- A trio of players hit .300 or better for West Liberty led by Chad Matthus' .395 average. The infielder hit over .400 as a freshman and checked in at .281 a year ago before his fast start this spring.
- Parker Dyson projects to be in the rotation for West Liberty at some point this weekend. A returning all-region and all-league honoree, the left-hander tossed a no-hitter against Fairmont State last spring and has started to reform after a slow start this season. After allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings at Erskine, Dyson has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last three starts while striking out 22 over 15 1/3 innings during the span.
Notes on Wheeling Jesuit
- Ryan Lewicki is in his first season at the helm of the program after being hired in early February. A former assistant Ohio Valley, Lewicki's team is off to a 1-9 start and enters the weekend on a four-game losing streak.
- Tanner Evans has been the team's most consistent pitcher to begin the season. The junior tossed 6 1/3 innings of three-hit ball against West Virginia Wesleyan, surrendering just one earned run most recently.
- Base stealing has caused issues for the Cardinals; entering the weekend, Jesuit catchers had allowed 19 stolen bases while the Cardinals had swiped just three bags of their own.
- Like West Liberty, the games will be the first "home" games of the season for Wheeling Jesuit.
Series History
- West Liberty leads the all-timer series against UVa-Wise 12-2. A year ago, the 'Toppers claimed 10-6 and 11-6 wins in Wise.
- Wheeling Jesuit leads the all-time series against UVa-Wise 8-6. Last year, the Cavs swept a pair of games from the Cardinals in Wise by scores of 14-1 and 6-5.
