CENTRAL, S.C. - - Senior right-hander Greg Dunccan struck out nine in a complete game five-hit, shutout to move to fifth in school history with 176 strikeouts as UVA Wise knocked off Southern Wesleyan 6-0 in game two of a doubleheader Saturday to take the three-game series 2-to-1. The Warriors took the first game of the day 3-1 behind a tri of hurlers that limited the Cavaliers to six hits.
UVA Wise (6-4) has now won five of its last seven games and back-to-back series following Duncan's mound performance in the series finale.
The right-hander was staked to an early 1-0 lead as Tyler Horvath doubled home Matthew Branham in the top of the second to give the guests the advantage.
It would be the only run Duncan would need. The Centreville, Va. product would not allow a hit until a one-out single in the third as he fanned four over the game's first three innings while improving his record to 1 and 0 on the young campaign.
UVA Wise would give the hurler more run support in the top of the third as Hank Banner's team scored five runs on just one hit. The Cavs took advantage of three Southern Wesleyan (4-5) errors in the frame while scoring on a bases loaded hit by pitch, a pair of sacrifice fly balls and a passed ball in the big inning.
The Warriors would fail to send more than four hitters to the plate in any one inning as Duncan saw just 26 batters in the game as he walked just one.
Tyler Blaum, Gabe Wurtz, Branham, Ethan Fletcher and Horvath had one hit each for UVA Wise. The hit by Branham extends the senior's hitting streak to six games after he had a 1-for-3 showing in game one of the doubleheader.
After coming in out of the bullpen Cole Standifer and Sandy Johnson would combine to toss five innings of scoreless relief for Southern Wesleyan.
The Warriors' Timo Schau was the only Southern Wesleyan player to register multiple hits as he finished 2-for-3 in the loss.
Game one saw Schau steal second, and score on a two base error on an overthrow on the steal to give Southern Wesleyan a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
An inning later, Ty Richards knocked in a run while DJ Ludwick stole home to make it a 3-0 affair.
UVA Wise would spend the rest of the game playing from behind. The Cavs would get on the board with the first collegiate RBI of freshman Caleb Pritchard's career, a run-scoring single that plated Branham in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-1.
Hank Banner's team would load the bases in the fifth but, Bryson Fowler would work out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout.
Fowler also added two hits at the plate in the win while scoring a run.
The 6-4 start to the year is the best for the Cavs since starting 7-3 in the 2016 season.
