Cavs' Offense Takes One and Pitching Fires Shutout in Other to Take Cobras

March 23, 2006

Bristol, VA -- The Highland Cavaliers pounded out 15 hits in game one and fired a shutout to take both ends of the baseball twinbill from the Cobras. Edwin Narvaez lined three hits and drove in four runs to help win 13-4 in the opener for The University of Virginia's College at Wise. Josh Verts and David Jones combined for a three-hitter in a 2-0 victory over Virginia Intermont in the latter contest.

UVa-Wise takes over sole possession of first place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference at 7-1. The Cavs are now 18-5. Virginia Intermont drops to 6-19 and 1-7 in the league.

Tied 1-1 after five innings, UVa-Wise put together the game-deciding trip to the plate. After a Cobra error, the Cavs followed with four-straight hits. Nathan Kiser singled, Wil Childress doubled and hits by Mike Lang and Narvaez. Matt Hall then lofted a sac fly to right field to complete the four hit and five run inning to go ahead 6-1.

Virginia Intermont answered with a single tally in the bottom of the sixth. The game remained 6-2 until the eighth. UVa-Wise produced two in the eighth and another five runs in the ninth while the home team pushed across only single scores in each of their turns at bat for a 13-4 final.

Narvaez went three for five, a double and four rbi. Lang had two hits, a triple and two runs drove in while both Kiser and Jon Reed had a pair of hits with a double apiece. Childress, Carlos Ramos and Andrew Anderson added doubles. Brandon Bates improved to a perfect 6-0 on the mound after pitching the first five innings.

Pitching took centerstage in the nightcap. Matt Hall singled, stole second and scored on a two out double by Reed for the first run of the game in the top of the sixth. Childress sliced a leadoff triple and scored on a passed ball for the other tally of the 2-0 contest. Anderson and Kiser had the other two UVa-Wise hits.

Freshman Josh Verts pitched the first 6 1/3 innings before Jones came on for the final 2/3rd inning and posted his league-leading eighth save. The duo allowed only three singles to the Cobras.

UVa-Wise will now have four days off until playing at Berea College next Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader.

Game 1
UVa-Wise 100 005 025 13-15-1
Va. Intermont 100 001 011 4-14-3

WP: Brandon Bates (6-0) C-Matt Hall
Clay Salyer (6th inn.)
LP: Paige C-Ward
2B: Ramos (W), Reed (W), Anderson (W), Kiser (W), Childress (W), Narvaez (W); 3B: Lang (W), Ward (V)

Game 2
UVa-Wise 000 001 1 2-5-0
Va. Intermont 000 000 0 0-3-0

WP: Josh Verts (2-0) C-Hall
LP: Orrick C-McGill
SV: Jones (8)
2B: Reed (W); 3B: Childress (W)