Benton Shutout Gives UVa-Wise Softball Split vs. Tn. Wesleyan
 
April 5, 2006

Wise, VA – Dani Benton fired a five-hit shutout to give UVa-Wise a softball split against Tennessee Wesleyan in the matchup of the Appalachian Athletic Conference two best teams.  In the opener, the Lady Bulldogs powered past the Lady Cavs 10-1 in five innings before Benton drove home the lone score and held the visitors scoreless for a 1-0 second game victory.
 
The two teams remained tied with one loss apiece.  Tennessee Wesleyan is one game ahead by virtue of having a 9-1 league mark while UVa-Wise is 7-1.  The Lady Cavs are now 15-11 overall and the Lady Bulldogs are 15-13.
 
UVa-Wise had no hitters have more than one hit for the twinbill.  Alicia King, Sarah Frazier and Amanda Wheeler in the first contest while Benton, Shelley Newton, Mary Wilson and Ashley Addington  in the latter affair.
 
With no score in the bottom of the fifth, Terri Ann Hill drew a leadoff walk for UVa-Wise.  Brittany Tunnell entered the game to pinch run for Hill and moved to second on an Addington bunt single.  Britney Lawson advanced the runners on a ground out before Benton singled to a diving Tennessee Wesleyan second baseman to plate Tunnell.  Benton finished off the Lady Bulldogs over the final two innings by allowing one hit for the 1-0 win.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan came out on fire in the opener.  The visitors led off with two hits and a walk to load the bases in the first.  Lindsey Hill followed with a two-run double and a third run scored on a UVa-Wise throwing error.  Crystal Peterson walked before Lacey Williams homered to center to make it 5-0.  Leslie Vess added a two-run double and a final tally for the trip to the plate of 8-0.
 
The Lady Cavs plated a single score in the bottom of the second.  King singled up the middle to bring home Krystal Showers who reached on an error.  UVa-Wise was unable to add to the single run while Tennessee Wesleyan added single scores in the third and fifth for the 10-1 final in five innings.
 
The Lady Cavs will spring right back into action on Thursday afternoon when they host Georgetown College for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference twinbill.
 
Game 1
TWC               801  01            10-10-1
UVa-W            010  00            0-3-1
WP: Kelli Chaney                     C-Amanda Richards
LP: Mallory Mazur (3-5)          C-Shelley Newton/Mary Wilson
2B: Vess (T), Malone (T), Hill (T), Peterson (T); 3B: Ball (T); HR: Williams (T), Ball (T)
 
Game 2
TWC               000  000 0      0-5-0
UVa-W            000  010  x      1-4-2
WP: Dani Benton (8-4) C-Terri Ann Hill
LP: Beth Williams
2B: Vess (T)