WINGATE, N.C. — The UVA Wise softball team couldn't hold off a late fifth inning two-out rally from the Bulldogs in game one, and a similar fate in the second inning of game two on Wednesday in Wingate, N.C.

GAME BY GAME:

In the first game, the Wingate Bulldogs (21-8, 4-0 SAC) attacked first with a Sarah Brooks single RBI after shutting down UVA Wise (9-5, 1-3 SAC) in the top of the first with three strikeouts and only allowing a Kaylee Jones single. 

The Cavaliers didn't respond to the one-run Wingate lead until the top of the third inning when Sarah Barrett and Kaylee Jones reached base. Kara Long came up to the plate and roped a single to center, scoring Barrett to tie the game. The Bulldogs retired the Cavaliers after two groundouts and a flyout.

The Bulldogs wasted no time in retaliation as Stroud hit a double in the bottom of the third and was scored home from a Holly Maness sacrifice fly. McKenna Falwell got the Cavs out of a bind when she struck out the next hitter and forced a groundout.

Alexis Miles came out of the gate with a solo homer to start off the fourth inning, keeping the Cavs and the Bulldogs even at two. Cavalier momentum lasted into the fifth, when Jenna McDermott stole on a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead. 

Once Wingate got their share of at-bats, momentum shifted as Wingate hit two home runs and scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Cavaliers wouldn't be able to score another run for the rest of the game and Wingate would go on to snag two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 10-3 victory.

In game two, the Cavaliers were the team to strike first with a Long RBI in the top of the first. The Bulldogs evened the score after a Cavalier miscue in the bottom of the inning, and then a Hali Scott homer put the score at 3-1.

Wingate drive kept the Cavaliers from reaching home plate until the fifth, as Scott struck out five Cavaliers and allowed five hits. Sydney Collins struck out one, but struggled to find her groove after the Bulldogs took control and had put their lead at 7-1 after four Bulldog hits. As Falwell came in for relief, Wingate was able to bring one more run in to put their lead at 8-1 in the bottom of the second. 

The Cavaliers and the Bulldogs would hold each other from scoring further until a Wingate error would bring in a Cavalier run in the top of the fifth. The Cavs wouldn't score again until Falwell and Mallory McKnight hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh that put the Cavs within four runs. Monica Hernandez in the circle for the Bulldogs would be able to Bulldogs out of a threatening inning as she was able to force a popup out and strike out two Cavaliers to finish out a Bulldog win.
 

UP NEXT
The Cavaliers head back home on Friday, March 11 for a doubleheader series against Lincoln Memorial, with first pitch slated at 1:00 PM with second game to follow.