CENTRAL, S.C. — Southern Wesleyan capitalized on UVA Wise miscues to post a 3-2 extra-innings win in the season opener before pounding out 12 hits en route to a 10-4 win in the finale to finalize the sweep on Friday, Feb. 3.
GAME 1
UVA Wise (0-2, 0-0 SAC) went on an offensive charge in the second inning when Mady Buchanan drilled an RBI triple to grab a 1-0 lead. Emma McCauley added to the scoring column with a sacrifice fly to bring Buchanan in before the side was retired.
Southern Wesleyan (2-0, 0-0 CC) evened the script with a two-run half-inning of their own due to a Cavalier error after a Warrior double.
Each squad was held dead even at two runs each before forcing it to extra innings. After a no-score half inning in the eighth for the Cavs, Southern Wesleyan took advantage of a wild pitch and took a walk-off 3-2 win.
Despite the loss, McKenna Falwell swiped seven strikeouts in seven and 2/3 innings.
GAME 2
In game 2, Southern Wesleyan put up five extra base hits to pace an offensive effort that saw the Warriors score double-digit runs for the first time since Feb. 19, 2022 (at Columbia International).
A Mallory McKnight RBI single catapulted the Cavaliers to a 1-0 lead after Kara Long smacked a one-out double and Brie Frazier singled to right field.
The lead quickly evaporated after Southern Wesleyan put up three consecutive singles in the bottom of the third and caused a Cavalier error to send Addi Johnson home. The host added on to the lead with an RBI single from winning pitcher And Wingate before her side was retired.
UVA Wise found a run in the fourth after a wild pitch from pitcher Autumn Barnhardt sent Megan Wilson home, but that would be the only scoring opportunity for the Cavs in the inning. Southern Wesleyan responded with two RBI singles and an RBI double to gain a 6-2 lead before heading into the fifth.
Despite two Cavalier unearned runs from two Southern Wesleyan errors in the fifth, Southern Wesleyan took control with an RBI single and a homer down the left field line from Sarah Prater to seal the deal. The Warriors finished the 10-4 triumph with 12 hits — including two each from Johnson, Barnhardt, and Wingate.
Up next, the Cavaliers head to the Converse College Tournament to face D'Youville and Converse at 12 and 2:15 PM on Saturday, Feb. 4.
