WISE - - Thursday's South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader between UVA Wise and Tusculum featured plenty of offense. The visiting Pioneers scored an 8-5 win in the opener before the Cavaliers claimed a 9-1 run-rule victory in the night cap as the schools split the conference opening doubleheader for both programs.
UVA Wise (9-11, 1-1 SAC) homered six times in the doubleheader, while tallying 11 extra-base hits on the day. Junior third baseman Kaylee Jones stayed hot as the Coeburn native finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 with a homer, three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored as she raised her batting average to .464.
Jones' strong day at the plate gave her club a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first inning of game two when she doubled home Nikki Smith. Tusculum (14-4, 1-1 SAC) tied the game in the second only to see Smith belt a two-run homer in the third to make it a 3-1 contest. Casey Chambers pushed the UVA Wise lead to 6-1 on a three-run blast later in the third inning.
The Pioneers would never recover as Raychel Lapallo improved to 3-0 in the circle as she fanned four while scattering six hits in a complete game five-inning effort.
The Cavaliers put the game to rest in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Julia Hoy, an RBI double by Jones and a run-scoring single by Riley Hunt.
In total, UVA Wise picked up nine hits in the win with Jones going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Smith was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI as she finished the doubleheader 3-for-5 batting leadoff.
Game one saw the two schools trade blows throughout the game. Jones gave the Cavs a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run homer to right centerfield only to see the Pioneers go in front with a three-run fourth inning.
Tusculum seemingly put the game out of reach with two runs in the sixth to lead 5-2 only to see UVA Wise come off the mat.
After the first two hitters of the frame made outs, Taylor Woodlief singled before a two-run homer by Katie Russell made it a 5-4 affair. Chambers then tied the game on a solo shot; the Cavs would eventually load the bases in the inning but would be unable to take the lead.
The missed opportunity proved costly as the Pioneers struck for three runs in the seventh inning, two of which came on a two-out, two-run homer by Bree Whitson.
UVA Wise would get a base runner in the home seventh but Delilah Malczewski shut the door to earn her third save of the season.
In the circle, Pioneers starter Ivee Richesin improved to 7-1 as she struck out nine over six innings allowing five earned runs.
UVA Wise outhit Tusculum 10-to-9 as Woodlief finished with three hits and Russell added two in the loss.
In the midst of a 10-game home stand, the Cavs will return to play Saturday when Anderson visits town for a SAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. from Cavalier Field.
