GAFFNEY, S.C. - - UVA Wise and Limestone split a South Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday at FCU Stadium. The visiting Cavaliers claimed game one 14-7 before the Saints won a slugfest in the night cap, 14-11.
In the opener, UVA Wise (2-16, 1-15 SAC) flexed its offensive muscle by lining 16 hits and scoring a season-high 14 runs.
Tyler Campbell finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate as he finished a homer shy of the cycle. The junior gave the Cavaliers their first lead of the day when his two-run triple allowed Tyler Blaum and Kyle Hoeth to trot home, giving the visitors a 4-2 lead in the second inning.
Campbell's two RBI triple came as part of a five-run frame for Hank Banner's club who also received run scoring hits by Blaum and Ethan Fletcher along with a sacrifice fly by Clay Taylor.
UVA Wise would push its lead to four when Fletcher singled home Gabe Wurtz in the fourth inning.
Trailing 6-2, Limestone (10-11, 8-8 SAC) countered with a five-run inning of its own in the fifth inning to regain the lead.
Vance Deese and Ben Huber each had RBI singles before Brian Forbes lined a two-run homer to tie the game. Moments later, the Saints took the lead on a solo blast off the bat of Matt Hilderbrandt.
The remainder of the game would belong to the Cavs. Fletcher flied out deep to centerfield allowing both Campbell and Blaum to score to give the visitors the lead back at 8-7 in the sixth before UVA Wise put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh.
Taylor, Blaum and Campbell would each haven an RBI prior to a two RBI single by Fletcher and a run-scoring hit by Gavin Birkheimer to provide the final margin of 14-7.
On the mound, freshman Hunter Anderson earned his first collegiate win in relief. The hurler allowed just one base runner over 1 1/3 innings of work as he induced three ground outs.
Fletcher followed Anderson in relief and did not allow a run in his inning of work as the duo combined to pitch scoreless baseball out of the UVA Wise bullpen.
Five Cavs had multiple hits in the win, Fletcher was 3-for-4 with six RBI while Blaum went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Birkheimer picked up two hits in four at bats with Hunter Meador going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
Forbes led an 11-hit attack for the Saints, the right fielder went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Game two featured more offensive fireworks as the two clubs combined for 36 hits, incredibly 32 of the 36 hits were singles. Despite the lack of extra base power, scoring runs was not an issue for either school.
Limestone scored multiple runs in five innings, including four in the eighth to overcome an 11-10 deficit to post the victory. The eighth inning comeback was highlighted by a two-run single by Deese and an RBI hit from Huber.
UVA Wise held leads of 5-to-2, 10-to-8 and 11-to-10 but would be unable to hold off the hosts.
The Cavs were led by Hunter Meador who tallied three hits in five at bats. The Roanoke, Va. native knocked in a pair and scored a run as part of his big day.
Meador was one of six UVA Wise players who had at least two hits in the game. Taylor, Blaum, Fletcher, Birkheimer and Campbell all had a pair of hits.
Huber went 6-for-6 for Limestone while Forbes picked up four hits to lead a 21-hit effort and secure the series win. The Saints won the first two games of the series on Saturday.
Next up, UVA Wise will entertain Anderson for a four-game series at Stallard Field next weekend. The series is set to begin Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
