WISE – Tusculum took all three games of the South Atlantic Conference season series from UVA Wise Friday and Saturday, including a marathon five hour game Saturday afternoon.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result Game One: Tusculum 18, UVA Wise 4
Result Game Two: Tusculum 13, UVA Wise 11 – 12 innings
Result Game Three: Tusculum 16, UVA Wise 1
Records: UVA Wise (10-30, 5-22 SAC); Tusculum (15-26, 9-18 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | Burchell Stallard Field
GAME ONE
- The Cavaliers managed to score four runs on seven hits, including a home run, but the Pioneers' five home runs drove their offense to a commanding victory.
- Tusculum took an early lead with a sacrifice fly by Steve Scarfone in the first inning, scoring
Jake Smith. UVA Wise's
Jaden Ruehling reached base on a throwing error and advanced to third, but the team was unable to capitalize, ending the inning with a 1-0 deficit.
- In the fourth inning,
Jake Smith from the Cavs hit a solo home run to center field, cutting into the Pioneers' lead after Evan Goins of Tusculum had homered for two runs. This left the score at 3-1 in favor of Tusculum.
- The fifth inning saw a surge from both teams. Tusculum extended its lead with a total of seven runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Caden Rector and a two-run homer from Evan Goins. In response, the Highland Cavaliers'
Carter Babb drove in two runs with a single, bringing the score to 10-3 at the end of the inning.
- Tusculum added another run in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by Caden Rector. The Cavaliers were unable to score, leaving the score at 11-3.
- In the seventh inning, the Pioneers capitalized on miscues by the Cavs, scoring seven unearned runs. Evan Goins hit another home run, contributing to the rally.
Jake Smith then drove in
Luke Johnson with a single for UVA Wise, concluding the game with a final score of 18-4 in favor of Tusculum.
-
Eli Reece pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and 8 earned runs while striking out one and walking two on 84 pitches.
Sawyer Patrick entered in relief for 2/3 of an inning, surrendering 2 runs on 2 hits, both home runs, and threw 10 pitches.
Hunter Garrett pitched 1 inning, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits and striking out one.
Hank Bright struggled in his brief outing, giving up 3 earned runs on 3 hits in just 1/3 of an inning.
Braden Hamilton closed the game with 2/3 of an inning, allowing 1 hit and 1 run on 22 pitches.
-
Jake Smith showcased his power by hitting a home run and collecting three hits with two RBIs.
Carter Babb added two hits and drove in two runs, contributing to the team's offense.
GAME TWO
- The Cavaliers recorded 11 runs on 17 hits, including two home runs, while the Pioneers totaled 13 runs on 21 hits in one of the longest games in UVA Wise baseball history, lasting well over five hours.
- UVA Wise took an early lead in the first inning.
Jaden Ruehling singled and later scored on a
Jake Smith single.
Carter Babb walked and scored, along with Smith, on a double by
Dane Frellick, giving the Cavs a 3-0 advantage after one inning.
- In the third inning,
Andrew Hardy hit a three-run home run to extend the lead. Later, Babb homered, bringing in two more runs for an 8-3 lead through three innings.
- Tusculum responded in the fourth with three runs, narrowing the gap to 8-6. However, in the fifth, the Highland Cavaliers added three runs, highlighted by a two-RBI double from
Morgan Miller, pushing the lead to 11-6.
- The Pioneers closed the gap with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, bringing the score to 11-10. In the eighth, a single by Evan Goins allowed Tusculum to tie the game at 11-11.
- The game remained tied through the ninth, tenth, and eleventh innings. In the twelfth inning, Tusculum's Evan Cage hit a two-run homer, securing a 13-11 victory for the Pioneers over UVA Wise.
-
Gabe Gowder started the game for the Cavaliers, pitching 4 innings and allowing 6 runs on 10 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1.
Logan Delph came in as relief, pitching 2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, and issuing 3 walks.
Caden Harris faced challenges in his brief appearance, pitching just 1/3 of an inning with 1 walk and 1 hit allowed.
Ryan Whitson provided some stability from the mound, pitching 5 2/3 innings with 3 earned runs on 7 hits, including 1 home run, while striking out 2 and walking 3.
-
Luke Johnson recorded three hits in a strong offensive performance. Babb contributed a home run and two RBIs, finishing with one hit. Hardy also hit a home run, adding three RBIs to his name.
Joshua Morgan tallied four hits, including a double, while scoring one run.
GAME THREE
- UVA Wise managed seven hits but was unable to bring home a run beyond the third inning, while Tusculum capitalized on four home runs to secure the victory.
- Tusculum took an early lead in the first inning when Ryan Ortega homered to left field. The Cavaliers responded in the third inning, as
Morgan Miller scored on a wild pitch after initially reaching base with a single, narrowing the gap to 3–1 through three innings.
- The fifth inning saw the Pioneers extend their lead significantly. Kolby Watson doubled, and Caleb Mulcahy followed with an RBI double. Keygan Miksa added a two-RBI double. The inning continued with Evan Cage's two-RBI single and Nick Satterly's two-run home run, culminating in an eight-run inning for Tusculum, leading 11–1 through five innings.
- The Pioneers added five more runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Evan Cage's two-run homer and Caleb Mulcahy's three-run homer, pushing their advantage to 16–1.
- The Cavs had a single hit by
Luke Johnson in the seventh, but the inning closed with no additional runs. The game concluded with the Pioneers securing a 16–1 victory over the Highland Cavaliers.
-
Bo Trantham pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs, and five earned runs, while striking out five batters and issuing four walks.
Sawyer Patrick faced difficulty in relief, not recording an out while allowing two earned runs on one hit and one walk.
Mason McAlarnis contributed with 2 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits, including two home runs.
Dylan Varitek pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and one walk, while surrendering one home run.
- Johnson led the team with three hits, demonstrating his consistency at the plate. Miller contributed by scoring a run and recording one hit, adding to the team's efforts.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will step out of conference to host a rematch with Johnson University, who are ranked fifth in the NAIA. Johnson won the first meeting 8-3 on March 18 in Knoxville.
