SW Virginia News

UVA WISE WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT BY KNOCKING OFF BLUEFIELD STATE 11-4

UVA Wise used a six-run second inning and four straight shutout innings from its bullpen to capture its fifth consecutive victory, 11-4 over Bluefield State at Stallard Field Wednesday. The five-game winning streak is the longest for the baseball program since 2019 when the Cavaliers won five consecutive games from Feb. 24 – March 2.

Senior Kyle Hoeth delivered the big blow for UVA Wise (9-12) in the six-run second when he lined a three-run homer over the left-field wall. It was the first homer of the season for the catcher who finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate.

Gavin Birkhimer, DJ Dickson and Matt Frye also had run-producing hits in the inning. The hits by Dickson and Frye extended each man's hitting streak. Dickson's now stands at 11 with Frye having a six-game hitting streak.

Cavalier freshman hurler Eli Reece would toss three consecutive scoreless frames to start the game before Bluefield State (8-10) would get to the right-hander in the fourth.

Curtis Ball would knock in Garret Hladilek with a sacrifice fly with one out in the inning but it would be all the Big Blue would get as Reece would strike out Tahir Meulens for the final out of the frame.

Reece's strikeout would be his final pitch of the afternoon. The right-hander fanned four and issued three walks while scattering five hits and allowing a run over his four-inning, 78-pitch effort. The starter would be credited with the mound win, the first of his collegiate career.

Shyheim Pannell used his speed to push the lead back to six in the home half of the fourth. The outfielder singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on fly out from Nick Badgett and eventually scored on a Dickson sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, Bluefield State would take advantage of two errors to cut the lead to three at 7-4. Sam Walker had a two-run single in the inning, it was one of two hits on the day for the Blues' right fielder.

It would be as close as the guests could get as Tyler Gorbett, Braden Hamilton, David Kelliher and Christian Smith would each pitch a shutout inning of relief to score the victory.

The Cavs did receive some insurance late as a run-scoring hit by Birkhimer in the seventh and a two-run single by Meador in the eighth preceded a Jeb Hurst sacrifice fly for the game's final run.

With 15 hits in the game, UVA Wise reached nine or more hits for the fifth consecutive contest. Meador led the way by going 3-for-5 while Badgett, Dickson, Pannell and Birkhimer joined Hoeth with two hits each.

Meulens, Cole Cote, and Hladilek joined Walker with two hits each for Bluefield State as the Blues dropped their second consecutive contest.

Blake Perry suffered the mound loss. Perry lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, striking out two and walking one as he fell to 0-1 on the year.

Wednesday's affair marked just the fourth home game of the season for UVA Wise. Brandon Costa's team will be back on the road this weekend for South Atlantic Conference play. The team is slated to begin a three-game set at Carson-Newman Friday.

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