BRISTOL, TN – UVA Wise made the short trip to King for a baseball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon and the Highland Cavaliers weathered the Tornado to the tune of a 12-5 win in the first game and a 6-4 win in extra innings in game two.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result Game 1: UVA Wise 12, King 5
Result Game 2: UVA Wise 6, King 4 – 8 innings
Records: UVA Wise (8-21); King (10-21)
Location: Bristol, TN | King Baseball Field
GAME ONE – UVA Wise 12, King 5
- UVA Wise scored eight runs in the fifth inning, contributing to its total of 12 hits, while King managed seven hits and three errors.
- King took an early lead in the first inning when Jose Ruiz scored on a wild pitch after reaching third base, giving King a 1–0 advantage.
- UVA Wise responded in the second inning.
Jacob Boyle reached first on an error and advanced to second.
Drew Knight followed with a triple to right center, driving in the unearned run.
Bernard Creque added to the scoring with a single up the middle, bringing Knight home and putting the Cavaliers up 2–1.
- In the third inning, King regained the lead with two runs. Jose Ruiz scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Smith, and Kale Richardson later scored on a groundout, making it 3–2 in favor of the Tornado.
- UVA Wise tied the game in the fourth inning. Knight was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a single by
Dalton Chapman. Creque also scored on a single by
Derrick Hall, but King quickly responded with two runs in the bottom half, making it 5–4 in their favor.
- The fifth inning saw a significant shift as the Cavs' offense erupted for eight runs. The inning was highlighted by a two-RBI single from Knight and further aided by errors from King, including an error by the catcher that allowed Boyle to score. Chapman and Hall contributed with RBIs, and
Joshua Morgan doubled to left field to bring in another run. By the end of the inning, UVA Wise led 12–5.
- The game concluded with no further scoring, and the Highland Cavaliers secured a decisive 12–5 victory over the Tornado.
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Ean Marria pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on one hit, three walks, and two hit batters while striking out one.
Dylan Varitek contributed 1 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, including two doubles, with one walk and one hit batter.
Caden Harris delivered a steady performance across two innings, allowing no runs and striking out two while surrendering two hits and a walk.
Ryan Whitson closed with a solid one inning, striking out two and allowing no hits, although he issued one walk and hit one batter.
- Knight recorded three hits, including a double and a triple, while driving in three runs and scoring three times. Morgan contributed with two doubles, scoring once and adding an RBI. Hall collected two hits and drove in two runs, scoring once and stealing a base. Chapman secured a hit and three RBIs, while also crossing the plate once.
GAME TWO – UVA Wise 6, King 4 – 8 innings
- UVA Wise captured the win with a pivotal two-run eighth inning. The Highland Cavaliers capitalized on eight walks and two stolen bases, overcoming an early 4-0 deficit to triumph.
- In the third inning, the Tornado took a 3-0 lead after Justin Smith's two-RBI single brought home Jacob Eargle and Christopher Rosario.
- UVA Wise responded in the fourth inning, beginning with
Drew Knight's walk and subsequent advance to third.
Elijah Monsanto's single loaded the bases, and
Andrew Hardy's walk forced in the Cavaliers' first run.
Dalton Chapman's sacrifice fly and a fielding error allowed three more runs to score, tying the game at 4-4 by the inning's conclusion.
- The eighth inning saw the Cavs break the tie. Monsanto singled and scored on
Joshua Morgan's RBI single.
Tyler Jones then added another run with an RBI single, giving UVA Wise a 6-4 lead.
- The Highland Cavaliers' pitching held King scoreless in the final frames, securing the win with a final score of 6-4.
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Braden Hamilton pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 batters and walking 2. He threw 81 pitches, 52 of which were strikes, and finished with a WHIP of 1.80.
Jake DeNeef contributed 1 inning of relief, giving up 1 hit and striking out 2, despite allowing a hit batter and a walk, resulting in a WHIP of 2.00. Hurk Bright was effective over 2 innings, striking out 3 batters without allowing a hit or a walk, maintaining a perfect WHIP of 0.00.
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Elijah Monsanto led the Cavs with two hits, scoring twice and stealing two bases.
Tyler Jones contributed with one hit and drove in a run while also drawing three walks.
Joshua Morgan made an impact as a pinch hitter, securing a hit, scoring a run, and adding an RBI in his sole at-bat. Bright showcased his pitching skills over two innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing no hits.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will return home to face Lenoir-Rhyne in a SAC series this weekend. The Bears are ranked 13th in the American Baseball Coaches Association Poll that came out earlier today.
