WISE – UVA Wise softball hit seven home runs in a doubleheader sweep of Wingate University Saturday afternoon at Cavalier Field. Freshman Jenna McDermott's walk-off double secured the 5-4 game one win as UVA Wise posted a 12-4 run-rule victory in six innings to take game two.
McDermott recorded the first hit of the game with a one-out single up the middle in the bottom of the first. A hit by pitch placed senior Kaylee Jones on base as McDermott advanced before Jones and McDermott advanced once more on a fly out to right off the bat of senior Alexis Miles. Wingate managed to get out of the inning with the game scoreless through the first.
Senior Katie Russell blasted the first home run of the day in the home half of the second to give the Cavs a 1-0 edge into the third frame. The Cavs pushed two more runs across on another bomb to right field off the bat of sophomore Megan Wilson to put UVA Wise in front 3-0 at the end of the fourth.
Wingate scored its first run in the top of the fifth after a one-out single up the middle for Gracyn Polk put her on base before stealing second. Haley Cashwell's double to right drove in Polk as the Bulldogs trailed 3-1 into the bottom of the inning.
McDermott pushed across senior Kailey Huffman in the fifth on a double down the left field line after Huffman led the inning with a double to center.
Wingate rallied late as Raelyn Kramer knocked a leadoff double to center before scoring on Sara Stroud's single in the top of the seventh. Wingate's Cashwell followed with a single as Heaven Maness sacrifice fly scored Stroud. Cashwell stole second and advanced to third before a Cavalier error allowed her to score an unearned run to knot the game at 4-4.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Huffman doubled to left center before McDermott's two-out RBI double gave the Cavs their first win of the day.
McDermott finished 3-for-4 in game one as Huffman and Russell each recorded two hits and two runs.
Senior Raychel Lapallo (5-5) earned the win as she struck out three and scattered nine hits in a complete game effort.
The Bulldogs Raechel Cutcher fell to 2-3 on the season as she yielded four hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings.
Scoreless through the first two innings of the second game, Wingate got on the board first with a RBI double for a 1-0 advantage.
UVA Wise tallied three of its seven home runs in the bottom of the third frame. Sophomore McKenna Falwell's lead off blast to right center tied the contest before a two-out homer to left center off the bat of freshman Sarah Barrett put UVA Wise ahead. McDermott drew a walk to get on base as Jones followed with a homer to center field for a 4-1 Cavalier lead.
Wingate responded in the top of the fourth with a two-run homer to left center by Stroud to cut the margin, 4-3, into the bottom of the frame.
In the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back homers for Huffman and Barrett drove in four runs for the Cavs to extend their advantage. Miles' RBI single to left scored one more for UVA Wise to go up 9-3 at the end of the fourth.
Wingate tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth with a Cashwell single to left scoring Sam Hogan with the Cavs still in front 9-4.
UVA Wise posted four consecutive hits to start the final inning. Huffman and Barrett scored back-to-back runs as Miles' sacrifice fly plated Jones for the 12-4 game two win.
The Cavs piled up 12 hits in the second game as Barrett and Falwell each finished with three while Barrett added a team-leading three runs.
Falwell (5-6) picked up the win in the circle as she scattered six hits and fanned seven across six innings.
Wingate's Sydney Kale (7-5) suffered the loss as she allowed three hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Softball will return to Cavalier Field Wednesday for a SAC doubleheader against Queens University of Charlotte. First pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m.
