JEFFERSON CITY, TN – UVA Wise softball opened South Atlantic Conference play with a doubleheader split at #19 Carson-Newman Tuesday afternoon, winning 7-4 in game one and falling 7-2 in game two.
The 7-4 win in game one broke a seven-game losing streak to the Eagles and was the first time the Highland Cavaliers have beaten a ranked team since March 22, 2022, when they won 5-2 over then-18th ranked Carson-Newman in Jefferson City.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result Game 1: UVA Wise 7, #19 Carson-Newman 4
Result Game 2: UVA Wise 2, #19 Carson-Newman 7
Records: UVA Wise (19-7, 1-1 SAC); Carson-Newman (20-5, 1-1 SAC)
Location: Jefferson City, TN | Kazee-Hollifield Field
GAME 1 – UVA Wise 7, #19 C-N 4
- UVA Wise capitalized on Carson-Newman's two fielding errors as they secured the win with a combination of four doubles and a triple as part of a ten hit outburst.
- In the second inning, UVA Wise opened the scoring with
Mataya Ausmus doubling to right center, driving in
Kennedy Miller, followed by
Adyson Gibson singling to center to bring home
Madison Anglin.
- In the third inning, the Eagles responded with two runs of their own, leveling the score at 2-2. However, in the fourth inning, the Highland Cavaliers regained the lead when a fielding error allowed Miller to score, making it 3-2.
- Carson-Newman tied the game again in the fifth inning, but UVA Wise pulled away in the sixth inning. Anglin scored on another double by Ausmus, and Gibson tripled to left center, extending the lead to 5-3.
- The Cavs added two more runs in the seventh inning.
Taylor Noe doubled to right center, and a pinch runner scored on a muffed throw. Carson-Newman managed one more run in their final at-bat, but it was not enough to catch up as the Cavs picked up their fourth-ever win over the Eagles by a 7-4 margin.
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Chloe Murphy pitched a complete game for UVA Wise, throwing 7 innings and allowing 4 earned runs on 11 hits. Murphy struck out 6 batters and walked only 1, facing 33 batters in total. Despite giving up 2 doubles, she maintained composure with significant strike efficiency, delivering 91 strikes out of 135 pitches. She now joins McKenna Falwell, Raychel Lapallo, and Taylor Brandts in defeating the Eagles.
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Adyson Gibson recorded three hits and two RBIs, including a triple, in her appearance at the plate.
Madison Anglin contributed two hits and scored twice while also drawing a walk.
Mataya Ausmus added two doubles and drove in two runs, enhancing her team's offensive efforts.
- Despite winning 7-4, the Cavs were out-hit by the Eagles 11-10. In all of the Cavs' wins over the Eagles, UVA Wise has never out-hit C-N. (Though in the first win on March 8, 2016 they tied in hits with 13 apiece.)
GAME 2 – C-N 7, UVA Wise 2
- The Carson-Newman offense exploded for 16-hits as they held the Cavs to six hits in a 7-2 win.
-Carson-Newman took an early lead in the first inning, with M. Bailey's 2-RBI single and A. Richards' sacrifice fly contributing to three runs. The score was 3-0 after the first inning. In the second inning, M. Bailey doubled, bringing in another run, which extended the Eagles' lead to 4-0.
- The fifth inning saw the Eagles add three more runs, with contributions from G. Gregory's double and A. Saunders' RBI double, increasing the lead to 7-0. In the sixth inning, the Cavs got on the scoreboard.
Kennedy Miller singled to right center, driving in
Sophie Easterly, who was pinch running for
Lindsey Polan.
Savannah Johnson then singled to left, allowing Miller to score. UVA Wise was unable to score in the seventh inning and the Eagles picked up the 7-2 win.
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Olivia Shockley pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and 7 earned runs while striking out 3 batters. She threw 99 pitches, with 66 going for strikes, and recorded one wild pitch.
Bayleigh Allison entered in relief, pitching 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run, giving up 4 hits, and striking out 2. Despite inheriting two runners, Allison managed to keep the opposition from scoring in her appearance.
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Kennedy Miller recorded a strong performance, finishing with two hits, one run, and one RBI.
Savannah Johnson contributed one hit and drove in a run with two outs.
Lindsey Polan added a hit, while
Taylor Clay was efficient in the field, recording three assists and participating in a double play.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will have the rest of Spring Break off before they return home to host Lenoir-Rhyne next Wednesday on the Bill Gatton Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne is currently 15-5 on the season and riding a twelve game winning streak, but they will play at King on Thursday, at Catawba on Saturday, and at Francis Marion on Monday before coming to Wise.
