WISE — UVA Wise struggled to fend off a tough offensive effort from North Greenville today, resulting in a 11-9 and 15-3 defeat at the hands of the Crusaders in the twin bill at Cavalier Field.

The Cavaliers (1-5) fell down five runs by the fourth inning from three Crusader home runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Megan Wilson started a rally with a two out, two-run homer to cut the lead to three.

North Greenville gained another run in the top of the fifth from a Brianna McRae shot over the scoreboard. McKenna Falwell soon retired the side forcing a flyout and a groundout right back at her in the circle.

UVA Wise hadn't lost their momentum as Brie Frazier smacked a two-run dinger to left field. Kara Long followed up Frazier's homer with a shot up the middle, but relief pitcher Sarah Clark put the side to bed with two Ks and a groundout.

Despite a three-hit, two run sixth inning for the Crusaders, UVA Wise brought a hot offense into the bottom of the sixth as Emma McCauley led with a leadoff single. Frazier solicited a walk before Long swung a RBI single up the middle to score McCauley and bring their deficit to three runs once again.

Sarah Barrett followed Long with a an RBI double to right and Long snuck into home after a wild pitch, putting the Cavs within one.

Soon after, a single from Falwell gave the Cavaliers their first lead of the game at 9-8 — but this would be the last scoring run for UVA Wise. In the seventh, a three-run, three-hit rally from the Crusaders sealed an 11-9 victory.

North Greenville was triumphant in game two, using the run-rule to put UVA Wise away in five innings. North Greenville put together six hits in the first to grab a 5-0 lead before Long led the charge for a one-run response for the Cavs in the bottom of the inning.

Long found another Cavalier scoring opportunity in the third with a two-run homer to left center, keeping the Crusaders within arm's reach.

The Crusaders would bust open the doors in the top of the fifth and find their way to a 11-3 lead at the hands of Karley Green and Virginia Bishop. The Crusaders would smash one more homer, a grand slam, in the inning to finalize the 15-3 victory.

Long led the Cavaliers going 5-for-6 from the plate including two doubles and a homer.

Up next, UVA Wise faces Hillsdale College (weather depending) in a single game on Sunday, Feb. 12 with a noon start.