Mihelarakis Two Singles Gives UVa-Wise Softball Split with UCharleston

April 11, 2008
Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

Wise, Va. – After a half hour rain delay, Bobbi Mihelarakis singled home the game-tying run in the sixth and game-winning liner to center in the eighth to lead UVa-Wise to a softball Friday split with the University of Charleston. The Golden Eagles took the first eight inning contest, 2-1, before the Lady Cavs behind Mihelarakis rallied for the 8-7 second game victory.

Mihelarakis (Sterling, Va.) laced an rbi triple in the opener before doubling and lining two run-scoring singles in the late game. UVa-Wise (16-12) lead off hitter Maddi Ridenour (Suffolk, Va.) had a pair of doubles and a single while Shelley Newton (Chesapeake, Va.) tripled and singled. Melanie Sutherland ( Birchleaf, Va.) drove a three-run double off the right center fence. Hannah Ellis (Keokee, Va.), Brittany Lawson ( Duffield, Va.) and Sarah Frazier (Big Stone Gap, Va.) posted two singles apiece.

Game 1

After two scoreless innings, Ridenour doubled to left field and came home when Mihelarakis tripled to right center. The lead did not last long as two singles and a sac fly by Natalie Murray tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fourth. The game would remain at 1-1 through the final 3 ½ innings.

Charleston (20-16) was able to push across a single run in the top of the eighth when Cindy Zander reached on a UVa-Wise error to make it 2-1. With Frazier on third, the Golden Eagles’ Stefanie Rossman was able to retire the final two batters to close out the game.

Lauren Snead (Troutville, Va.) continued her strong pitching. She went all eight frames, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out seven.

Game 2

Both teams bats came alive early and often in the late contest. After Charleston plated two scores to open the game, Mihelarakis doubled to start the UVa-Wise big at bat. Mary Wilson (Va. Beach, Va.) singled home the runner. Christine Cantone (Va. Beach, Va.) singled up the middle and Lawson lined another hit to left to load the bases. Sutherland followed with a bases clearing double off the right centerfield fence to go in front 4-2.

The Golden Eagles tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the second with another pair of tallies. With one out, Ridenour tripled to right center and scored on a fielder’s choice off Newton’s bat to edge in front, 5-4.

Charleston tied the game for a second time in the top of the third, 5-5, before Michelle Sablehaus homered to center in the fifth to make it 6-5.

In the top of the sixth, the Friday rain finally hit the Wise area and forced approximately a 30 minute rain delay. The Golden Eagles did not score but the Lady Cavs would even the game. Frazier reached on an infield single, advance to second on a Ridenour sac ground out and came home on a Mihelarakis single for a 6-6 game.

After a scoreless seventh, Charleston’s Michelle Lee lofted a sac fly to right field to go in front 7-6 in the visiting eighth. With runners on first and third, Frazier hit a shallow sac fly to center to score a diving Lawson to tie the game. Following a Ridenour double to put runners on second and third, Mihelarakis came through again with a sharp single to center to drive in the game-winning run for an 8-7 final.

UVa-Wise hurler Megan McCoy ( Va. Beach, Va.) gutted out a complete game victory to improve to 4-3.

The Lady Cavs will move on to their biggest twinbill of the year. UVa-Wise will play for the Appalachian Athletic Conference lead Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at rival Milligan College.