GLENVILLE, W.Va. - - UVa-Wise and Glenville State split a Mountain East Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon. The host Pioneers scored a 2-0 win in the opener before the Cavaliers bounced back to claim a 13-1 win in the series finale. The 13-1 triumph allowed UVa-Wise to win the series 3-1; the Cavs won both games Saturday.
The only runs of game one came when Zach Bacon belted a two-out, two-run homer in in the fifth inning. It would be all the runs Glenville State (9-22, 5-11 MEC) hurler Chase Swain would need as he scattered five hits over seven innings of work. Swain struck out four and walked just one in the complete game effort.
UVa-Wise (17-16, 11-5 MEC) put up its best scoring threat in the seventh inning. Brett Yates singled to lead off the frame before a one-out single by Tristan Peccerelli put two on base. An infield single by Matthew Branham loaded the bases with two outs but, Swain would get a groundout to end the threat picking up his first win of 2019.
Peccerelli collected two of the Cavs' five hits while starter RJ Vanvickle was a hard luck loser. The sophomore allowed just three hits, struck out five and issued just one walk as he fell to 3-4 on the season.
Game two saw UVa-Wise take advantage of 12 walks, six hit batters and two Glenville State errors to roll to the 13-1 win.
David Thomas went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead a six-hit effort while Bret Roberts picked up three RBI in the win.
Every Cav that stepped to the plate reached base at least once, Dawson Cagle scored three runs and knocked in a run in the win without recording a hit.
On the mound, Trevor Nevill tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to begin the game before being relieved by Jimmy Vanosdale. Vanosdale was credited with the win (1-1) after allowing a run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
The Pioneers used five pitchers in defeat, combined the hurlers threw 191 pitches in the seven-inning affair.
UVa-Wise is now 17-8 over its last 25 games and by virtue of other results around the league the team has moved to sole possession of second place in the MEC South Division. Hank Banner's team will be back on the road next week for a pivotal four game series with West Virginia State.
