WISE – The UVA Wise baseball team played a mid-week doubleheader against Bluefield State Wednesday afternoon on Stallard Field and improved to 6-0 on the season with the 11-6 and 8-5 sweep of the Big Blues.
The games were originally scheduled to be played at Bluefield and were moved to Wise before the start of the weekend series between the two schools.
The 6-0 start to the season is the best for the Highland Cavaliers in the program's NCAA era, is the best start of the past 30 years, and might be the best start in program history. Our research went back to around 1994 in the time available, and one or more of the teams under Coach Spenilla in the late 80s/early 90s might have had an equal or better start. We will keep checking as time allows.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Game One: UVA Wise 11, Bluefield State 6
Game Two: UVA Wise 8, Bluefield State 5
Records: UVA Wise (6-0); Bluefield State (0-6)
Location: Wise, VA | Burchell Stallard Field
GAME ONE
BSU scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but the Cavs answered back with five runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a
Jeb Hurst triple with the bases loaded that scored three of the runs.
UVA Wise tacked on two runs in the third and a run each in the fourth and fifth innings to make the lead 9-2.
Bluefield State plated two more runs in the sixth, which were nullified by a
Nick Badgett two run blast over the right center fence in the bottom of the inning.
The Big Blues would score two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to five, but the Cavs then shut the door and picked up their fifth win of the season.
Badgett, Hurst, and
Jacob Boyle each had two hits in the game, with Badgett hitting a double and a home run.
Micah Hill claimed the win as he entered in relief and pitched 1.1 innings, giving up no hits or runs.
GAME TWO
The Blues scored two runs in the second, only to see the Cavs even it up in the bottom of the inning via a two run home run by
Micah Hill.
The Cavs would take the lead and extend it with a pair of runs in the third and a run in the fourth.
Bluefield State tied the game in the fifth with a pair of runs. UVA Wise then regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. They then held on for the 8-5 win, their sixth of the season.
Hill had an impressive outing with three hits and three RBI while scoring twice.
Evan Stanley and Badgett had two hits apiece.
Hunter Garrett picked up his second win in four days as he only allowed one hit in two innings of relief.
Daniel Kanagy earned a save, his first of the season.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will host a four game series against the Union University Bulldogs this weekend. Union took two of three games at Limestone to open the season. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, but weather might move the games ahead a day.
