WISE - - UVA Wise mashed its way to a series sweep of Salem by sweeping Sunday's doubleheader by scores of 10-7 and 15-1. On the weekend, Brandon Costa's team outscored the Tigers 53-20 and blasted nine homers over the quartet of games.
GAME BY GAME
GAME ONE
CAMPBELL STAYS HOT
UVA Wise broke out to a 4-0 lead after an inning of play as Tyler Campbell belted a two-run homer and Colby Welborn lined a two-run single. The homer was Campbell's third of the weekend and his fifth of the week; on the year, the senior has a South Atlantic Conference leading 13 homers.
MAKE IT 6-0
An inning later, the Cavaliers pushed the lead to 6-0 as Bret Roberts singled home Kyle Hoeth and Cole Harness doubled in Clay Taylor.
SALEM GETS ON THE BOARD
A Connor Bardue sacrifice fly got the Tigers on the board in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 6-1.
INSURANCE
UVA Wise got the run back when Welborn legged out an infield single in the bottom of the fourth inning allowing Harness to score.
The fifth inning would prove to be pivotal as a run-scoring single by Campbell plated Roberts before Harness knocked in Taylor and Welborn worked a bases loaded walk as part of a three-run fifth to push the lead to 10-1
TIGERS CLAW BACK
The visitors would score six times over the game's final two innings to make the hosts nervous. Tyler Shinn got the scoring started with a two-run single in the sixth before Jared Palmrya plated two more with a double to centerfield in the sixth.
In the seventh, Bardue doubled in a pair as Salem would get the tying run to the plate. At that point, UVA Wise reliever James Balogh would get Shinn to pop out for the game's final out to guarantee the series win.
BOX SCORE NOTES
UVA Wise recorded 16 hits in the win. Roberts (3), Campbell (3), Taylor (2), Harness (2), Welborn (2) and Hoeth (2) all had multiple hits for the Cavs.
Justin Snider improved to 2-0 on the mound as the right-hander scattered eight hits, struck out four, and walked one over five innings of work.
GAME TWO
VISITORS SCORE FIRST
Alex Harper would put Salem in front 1-0 in the top of the first as he doubled home Palmyra. While the Tigers got the lead, it was a missed opportunity as the guests stranded a pair in the frame.
TYING IT UP
UVA Wise wasted little time tying the game up in the home half of the first inning. Justin Reed singled to lead off the frame before coming around to score on an RBI single from Harness.
BUSTING IT OPEN
In the second, the Cavs blew the game open with a six-run inning. In the big frame, Taylor lined a sacrifice fly, Harness had a RBI single, Hunter Meador knocked in a run, DJ Dickson worked a bases loaded walk, Harness scored on a wild pitch and JoJo Kelliher picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
ADDING ON
UVA Wise added five runs in the fourth as Harness belted a two-run homer, JoJo Kelliher singled in Hunter Meador, Dickson scored on a sacrifice fly from Jude Drzemiecki and Taylor knocked in a run on a double.
In the sixth, Reed doubled home D'Sean Prinkleton and Taylor knocked in Reed and Drzemiecki to provide the final margin of 15-1.
BOX SCORE NOTES
Ryan Whitson (3-2) earned the mound win by tossing two innings of scoreless relief. Whitson was one of four relievers who pitched scoreless ball out of the bullpen. David Kelliher, Hunter Anderson and Nash Bingham all tossed a scoreless inning.
Offensively, UVA Wise tallied 15 hits. Harness led the charge by going 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored while Taylor also knocked in four runs as part of a 2-for-4 game.
The Cavs are now on a four-game winning streak for the first time since April 27 – 28, 2019 and the team has secured its most wins (12) since that 2019 season.
UP NEXT
UVA Wise travels to King University for a doubleheader Tuesday. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
