BRISTOL, TENN. – The Cavalier softball team (4-2, 0-0 SAC) swept King University (0-2, 0-0 Conference Carolinas) in thrilling fashion Wednesday afternoon.
Game 1: Cavs def. Tornado, 8-5
The opening game of the mid-week double header saw UVA Wise fall behind King early on.
In the third inning, the Tornado plated four runs behind three extra base hits which included a solo home run and a triple.
The Cavs would get two runs back in the top of the fourth thanks to a double from junior infielder Abagail Mills, scoring seniors Brie Frazier and Kara Long.
King added another run in the bottom half of the inning to go up 5-2.
Next inning, freshman infielder Kaylynn Baker launched a solo home run, the first of her career, to make it 5-3.
The Cavalier comeback was completed in the sixth inning when a two-out rally helped the Cavs take the lead.
After a few singles, freshman outfielder Mataya Ausmus worked a walk to load the bases, bringing up Baker again.
Baker rifled a ball back at the new King pitcher, sophomore Savana Luper, who was unable to make the play as a run scored.
The Cavs tied the game 5-5 after a wild pitch from Luper allowed Mills to tap the plate.
With runners on second and third and still two outs, the Cavs worked consecutive walks from freshman Hannah Bruce and senior Sarah Barrett to take a 6-5 lead.
With one final chance to add some insurance, Mills doubled with two outs in the top of the seventh, putting herself in scoring position for junior catcher Mallory McKnight.
McKnight ripped a double of her own down the left field line to score Mills.
Freshman Riley Nichols pinch ran for McKnight and did so all the way home after a single from redshirt freshman Savannah Johnson giving the Cavs a decisive 8-5 lead.
Junior pitcher Jillian Jones started the game for the Cavs and went 5.1 innings before turning the ball over to sophomore Bayleigh Allison.
Allison struck out two of the five batters she faced en route to a five-out save, her first of the year.
Game 2: Cavs def. Tornado, 7-6
In the second game, the Cavs once again had to battle back from being down four runs early in the contest.
The Tornado bolted out of the gates, recording five hits with a pair of doubles to take a 4-0 lead.
Instead of chipping away at the lead as they did in game one, UVA Wise instead used one swing to get it all back in game two.
In the top of the third, Barrett started things with a leadoff single. Long followed two batters later with a single of her own.
Mills popped up on the infield, putting the Cavs in danger of stranding a pair of runners with two outs.
Instead, McKnight walked to load the bases which allowed Frazier to dig into the batter's box.
Frazier turned on a pitch and mashed her first home run of the season, a game-tying grand slam.
King wouldn't take long to break the tie. In the Bottom of the fourth, defensive mistakes from the Cavs let the Tornado pull in front. Freshman catcher Caitlynn Bishop reached base by singling, and then was put in scoring position after a passed ball. A subsequent throwing error from junior pitcher Alivia Nolley scored Bishop to put the Tornado up 5-4.
Allison came on to pitch for Nolley and quickly recorded the first two out of the inning. However, another error, this time in the field, allowed sophomore Bradie Warner to score.
King held its 6-4 lead all the way until the top of the sixth inning. Yet again, a two-out, Cavalier rally would boost UVA Wise's offense.
After Baker and Johnson each struck out to start the frame, junior catcher Emma McCauley then walked. A single from Barrett put runners on the corners with two down.
Cavalier head coach Karen Bitter pulled the strings in her lineup and pinch hit Ausmus to try to keep the inning alive. Ausmus did just that by working a walk, loading the bases and allowing Long to step up to the plate.
On a 3-1 count, with the tying run in scoring position, Long smoked a line-drive double all the way to the wall in left field. Her knock cleared the bases and gave UVA Wise a 7-6 advantage.
King gave Cavalier fans a scare in the final seventh inning. With Allison in the circle, the Tornado had runners at second and third with only one out.
Allison blew past junior infielder Helina Hahn for a strikeout. Then she got freshman outfielder Katie Ryan to ground out to second base and secure the Cavalier win.
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In total between the two games, Allison pitched 5.2 innings without allowing a run or a walk. She struck out six batters combined, earned the save in game one and earned the win in game two. She's now 2-0 with one save on the year and hasn't allowed an earned run in 10.2 innings in the circle this season.
Long highlighted the day on offense for the Cavs, going a combined 5-for-8 (.625) with three RBIs, two runs and no strikeouts over both contests.
Long is now 11-for-18 (.611) at the dish this season with a home run and nine RBIs. She has yet to strike out. In fact, Long hasn't struck out in a game since April 5, 2023 and has been sent back to the dugout just one time in her last 28 games.
Frazier also went 3-for-8 (.375) with four RBIs after her game-tying grand slam in game two.
The Cavs return to Wise with excitement brewing for the home opener against Concord University.
The Cavs will face the Mountain Lions for a Sunday double header at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Before the first game, UVA Wise officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to debut the brand new turf at Cavalier Field. The pregame ceremonies will start at approximately 12:45 p.m.
