HICKORY, N.C. — UVA Wise struck first in both games of the twin bill in Hickory but weren't able to hang on as the Bears stole away 9-2 and 6-2 wins on Saturday afternoon.
A huge two-run bomb from Mallory McKnight put the Cavaliers (8-24, 3-15 SAC) on the board early in game one of the series. But McKnight's hit would be one of three total hits in the contest for her squad as Bears hurler Morgan Beeler would hold Cavalier bats at bay swiping 11 strikeouts.
Lenoir-Rhyne (29-7, 11-5 SAC) wouldn't waste much time putting a tally on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as a single, a walk, and a passed ball would get Bears in scoring position. Lora Beth Wood would swipe an RBI single before Lauren Rakes would add an RBI single of her own to tie things up at 2-2.
Lenoir-Rhyne would find three more scoring opportunities in three consecutive innings — the third, the fourth, and the fifth innings — to jump ahead to a 9-2 lead. Notably, Rakes would smash a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to break the tie and fuel Bears momentum in the triumph.
McKenna Falwell finished out in the circle with four strikeouts for the Cavaliers. McKnight led the Cavaliers offensively with two RBI from a hit. Hayley Duckett and Kara Long also added a hit each to their statline.
In game two, Lenoir-Rhyne pieced together 10 hits and scattered scoring in four of six innings to secure the sweep.
McKnight led the Cavaliers off once again offensively with a single in the first that would eventually turn into a Lenoir-Rhyne throwing miscue, giving the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. She would then homer once again on the day in the fourth to get the Cavaliers within one run of a Lenoir-Rhyne three-run rally that came from hits from Cassidy Wall and Wood in the first and third innings, respectively. Wells would make her mark once again in the fifth with a two-run homer to take a 5-2 lead before another homer from Katie Rackerd would finalize a 6-2 Bears win.
Kara Long went three-for-four at the plate including a double. Sarah Barrett and McKnight also added two hits apiece in the nightcap.
Up next, UVA Wise head back home for a non-conference matchup against the Lees-McCrae Bobcats on Wednesday, April 5 at 3/5 PM start times.
