WISE – Saturday was bittersweet for UVA Wise softball seniors Kara Long, Brie Frazier and Sarah Barrett. The trio, playing in the final games of their final season on their home field, all had big afternoons to end their careers in style with a South Atlantic Conference series sweep of Mars Hill.

The Highland Cavs came from behind in the first game to send it to extra innings, where they prevailed 6-5 on a walk-off walk. Game two saw the Cavs grab the early lead and never look back in the 9-5 victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score Game One: UVA Wise 6, Mars Hill 5 (8 innings)
Final Score Game Two: UVA Wise 9, Mars Hill 5
Records: UVA Wise (16-30, 6-18 SAC), Mars Hill (15-29, 4-18 SAC)
Location: Wise, Va. | Cavalier Field
 
GAME ONE:
- It was a pitcher's duel through the first three innings as neither team could figure out the other's pitcher. Mars Hill had the first base runner of the game on a walk in the top of the third and the Cavs had theirs when Abagail Mills was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third.
- The Lions scored in the top of the fourth when Leah Grimes reached via an error and advanced to second. She then scored on the next at bat off a hit by Farley Park.
- Grimes would bring in two more runs with a single up the middle in the fifth inning.
- After Adyson Gibson reached via a single down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth, Brie Frazier knocked a double to left center to bring her home on the next at bat. Kara Long later singled to put runners on the corners and then she and Frazier both scored to tie the game via a double by Mallory McKnight.
- Neither team scored in the seventh, so the game went to extra innings and the international tie-breaker. With MHU's Miranda Marks beginning the inning on second, Farley Park hit a home run that bounced off the foul pole to give the Lions the 5-3 advantage.
- Mataya Ausmus was placed on second to start the inning, and with the Lions wary of giving up the sacrifice bunt they ended up walking Gibson. Frazier then advanced the runners a base with the sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Up next was Long, who is among the leaders in the SAC in hitting. She would live up to her name with a two RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Barrett would single and McKnight get the walk to load the bases with one out. Savannah Johnson then came up to bat and was walked as a pitch with a full count just missed the strike zone and Long scored to seal the Cavalier victory.

GAME TWO:
- The Cavs picked up four runs in the second inning and four in the third, including two off a home run by Frazier. Mars Hill would cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the third and score two more in the sixth to make the score 8-4.
- Barrett would extend the lead to 9-4 with a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth.
- The Lions would score one run in the top of the seventh before Bayleigh Allison came in to retire the side and earn her second save of the season.

GETTING WISE:
- Brie Frazier was a double shy of hitting for the cycle in game two. She had a double in game one so for the final day of her collegiate career she hit for the cycle with a combined five hits, two runs, and five RBI.
- Fellow senior Sarah Barrett had three hits, a run, and two RBI for the day.
- The third senior, Kara Long, had two runs, two hits and two RBI.
- Gibson chipped in four runs, four hits, and two RBI for the day, while Ausmus added in three runs, a hit, and an RBI.
- Jillian Jones picked up the win in game one as she went the distance, giving up five runs off of five hits with five strikeouts in eight innings and 117 pitches.
- Alivia Nolley earned the win in the second game, going 6.2 innings and allowing five runs off of eight hits with three strikeouts. Allison claimed the save as she gave up a hit before getting the final out of the season.
 
UP NEXT
The team ends their season with the sweep. They will next take the field for fall practice later this year before opening the 2024-25 season next February.