WISE – Wingate swept the Highland Cavaliers in a three-game South Atlantic Conference series Friday and Saturday.

For the weekend Jake Smith led the Cavs in hitting, going 6-14 with a double, a home run, and seven RBI. Luke Johnson also had a solid weekend as he was 4-10 with a double, a home run, and three RBI.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result Game 1: Wingate 10, UVA Wise 6
Result Game 2: Wingate 6, UVA Wise 2
Result Game 3: Wingate 10, UVA Wise 8
Records: UVA Wise (6-13, 3-9 SAC); Wingate (18-4, 10-2 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Stallard Field

GAME ONE
- Wingate jumped ahead in the first inning as Sean Sullivan homered to left field, driving in Bowen Powell for an early 2-0 lead. The Cavaliers responded with Derrick Hall's single up the middle, but they failed to convert the opportunity, leaving the score at 2-0 Wingate after the first inning.
- In the second inning, the Bulldogs extended their lead. Gavin Groppuso's single up the middle brought home two runs, making it 4-0.
- The third inning saw Jake Smith drive in Luke Johnson with a single to right center, but Wingate added another run, maintaining a 5-1 advantage after the third.
- In the fifth inning, Smith's three-run homer to right field brought the Cavs back into contention, closing the gap to 6-4 after the Bulldogs had added another run. UVA Wise continued to chip away in the sixth as Hall's single to shortstop brought Bernard Creque home, making it 6-5.
- Wingate added a run in the eighth, increasing its lead to 7-5. In the ninth, Johnson homered to right field for UVA Wise, but Wingate's three-run inning sealed their victory. The final score was 10-6 in favor of Wingate.
- Eli Reece pitched 7 innings, allowing 7 earned runs on 12 hits, including 2 home runs, and striking out 7 batters. He threw 124 pitches, with 80 of them being strikes, and did not walk any batters, ending with a WHIP of 1.71. Sawyer Patrick contributed with an efficient inning of relief, facing only two batters and recording a groundout double play, maintaining a WHIP of 0.00. Ryan Whitson pitched the final inning, conceding 3 earned runs on 2 hits, walking 2 batters, and giving up a home run, ending with a WHIP of 4.00.
- Johnson posted a notable performance with three runs, two hits, and a home run, while Smith delivered a strong showing, recording four RBIs and two hits, including a home run. Hall added a well-rounded effort, scoring a run, collecting two hits, and stealing a base.

GAME TWO
- Wingate took an early lead in the third inning when Jalen Evans homered to left center, making it 1-0. Through three innings, Wingate led 1-0.
- In the fifth inning, UVA Wise responded with Morgan Miller reaching base and advancing to third on a wild pitch and passed ball. Luke Johnson then singled up the middle to bring in Miller. Jake Smith followed with a single, and Joshua Morgan doubled down the left field line, scoring both Johnson and Smith. This gave the Cavs a 2-1 lead, but the Bulldogs tied it with a double from Jalen Evans that scored Gavin Groppuso. The inning ended with a 2-2 tie.
- Wingate regained the lead in the sixth inning when Sean Sullivan doubled and was brought home by Tanner McCammon's single. Wingate led 3-2 after six innings.
- The seventh inning saw the Bulldogs extend their lead with Sean Sullivan's two-RBI double and an additional RBI single by Jake Courville, pushing the score to 6-2 in favor of Wingate.
- Bo Trantham pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out five batters. He threw a total of 136 pitches, 74 of which were strikes, and allowed one home run. Ean Marria followed with a brief relief appearance, pitching 1/3 of an inning, giving up one hit, walking one, and not allowing any runs.
- Luke Johnson scored one run, collecting one hit, and driving in another run while drawing two walks. Joshua Morgan had a double and two RBIs in his sole hit. Morgan Miller provided defensive support with four assists and also recorded a hit.

GAME THREE
- The Highland Cavaliers rallied from a 7-1 deficit with a four-run eighth inning to take the lead, only to see the Bulldogs surge ahead in the top of the ninth to take the 10-8 victory.
- UVA Wise opened the game with a score in the bottom of the first inning. Luke Johnson doubled down the right field line and was brought home by Jake Smith's single to left center. Wingate, however, scored three runs in the Bulldog half of the inning with a three-run homer by Bowen Powell, taking an early 3-1 lead.
- Wingate extended its lead in the second inning with two more runs. Gavin Groppuso doubled down the left field line, driving in Reed Benamati, and Jalen Evans followed with a double to right field, scoring Groppuso. The score stood at 5-1 in favor of the Bulldogs after two innings.
-In the fourth inning, the Cavaliers added another run. Jaden Ruehling doubled, and an RBI sacrifice fly by Bernard Creque allowed Ruehling to score, narrowing the gap to 7-2.
- UVA Wise started a comeback in the seventh inning. Derrick Hall was hit by a pitch, and after a walk to Johnson, a groundout by Smith allowed Hall to score. Joshua Morgan's single then brought in Johnson, reducing the deficit to 7-4.
- The eighth inning saw a surge from the Highland Cavaliers, who scored four runs to take the lead. After Tanner Jones walked and Elijah Monsanto entered as a pinch runner, Andrew Hardy was hit by a pitch. Hall singled, loading the bases. Johnson's sacrifice fly scored Monsanto, and Smith's double scored Hardy. Morgan singled, bringing in Hall, and Jaden Ruehling's fielder's choice allowed Smith to score, putting UVA Wise ahead 8-7.
- Wingate responded in the ninth with a pair of home runs. Groppuso's two-run homer and Evans' solo shot turned the game around, giving the Bulldogs a 10-8 lead, which they held to the final out.
- Mason McAlarnis started for UVA Wise, pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits, including a home run, while walking two and striking out none. Caden Harris relieved McAlarnis and pitched 2/3 of an inning, conceding one run on two hits with no walks or strikeouts. Sawyer Patrick provided the most extended relief, pitching 5 2/3 innings, yielding two earned runs on six hits and striking out two while issuing three walks. Andrew Binns-Loveman pitched the final 1/3 inning, giving up a home run for his only hit and earned run allowed.
- Derrick Hall contributed by scoring two runs, collecting two hits, and drawing a walk. Johnson added to the scoring with two runs and an RBI, also doubling during the game. Smith led the hitting with three hits and three RBIs, including a double. Morgan chipped in with two hits and two RBIs, further boosting the team's offensive efforts.
 
  Read Full Article