UVa-Wise Splits Two One-Run Contests with Tusculum

March 25, 2008
GAME 1 BOXSCORE

GAME 2 BOXSCORE

Wise, Va. – UVa-Wise saw its three-run seventh inning rally fall one run short in the opener, 7-6, to fall to Tusculum before holding on to a 10-9 victory after an eight run first to earn the Tuesday afternoon softball contests.

Bobbi Mihelarakis (Sterling, Va.) had the hot bat for the Lady Cavs (5-7) with a five for seven and three rbi day. Britney Lawson (Duffield, Va.) lined a double and triple as part of her three hit day while Shelley Newton (Chesapeake, Va.) added three singles. Christine Cantone (Va. Beach, Va.) had a double and single and Mary Wilson (Va. Beach, Va.) had two singles.

The Pioneers (10-15) saw Ashley Basilicato hit three two-run home runs in the second game and two singles in the opener. Anna Johnson lined three hits with a double. Jess Greer hit a three-run homer while Shanda Kimbrough, Lynnsey Jett and Taylor MacDonald had doubles.

Game 1

The Lady Cavs struck first in the first two innings. Newton singled home Mihelarkis in the first. Lawson tripled and scored on a Hannah Ellis (Keokee, Va.) sac bunt in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Tusculum posted a trio of runs in the top of the third when Greer hit a two-out three-run homer to left field to take a 3-2 lead. MacDonald laced a two-run double in the fourth and later came home on a wild pitch to increase the margin to 6-2.

Lawson doubled home Newton in the home sixth for UVa-Wise. The Pioneers equaled the score in the top of the seventh when Lesli Huerta singled through the left side with the bases load for a 7-3 score.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mihelarakis, Newton and Cantone lined run-scoring singles to pull within 7-6 before Tusculum winning pitcher Holli Cadenhead was able to get Lawson to ground out to end the game.

Game 2

Tusculum’s Basilicato big game started in the top of the first. She hit her first home run to left field for a 2-0 lead after a half inning.

The lead would not last long as the Lady Cavs sent 13 batters to the plate in the home first. In the eight-run inning, Mihelarakis had two rbi singles while Cantone and Frazier each drove home two with a double and single to make it 8-2.

Basilicato struck again for Tusculum with her second two-run round-tripper in the third to make it 8-4. Two innings later, UVa-Wise equal the two runs when Candace Winslow (Chesapeake, Va.) had a sac fly to left and Wilson had a rbi hit for a 10-4 score.

In the top of the sixth, Basilicato smashed a deep home run to center, her third two-run homer. With two outs, the visitors saw MacDonald draw a bases loaded walk and Johnson line a two-run double to center to pull within 10-9. UVa-Wise reliever Megan McCoy (Va. Beach, Va.) was able to get the final out and preserve the lead.

After a lead-off walk to Basilicato to start the inning, McCoy retired the next three Pioneers including fanning the last batter to seal the win for the Lady Cavs and 10-9 win.

UVa-Wise will move on to face Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Montreat College on Wednesday afternoon starting at 2:00 p.m.