WISE, Va. – The University of Charleston softball team opened the 2026 season on Friday afternoon at Bill Gatton Field, dropping a back-and-forth contest to UVA Wise before bouncing back with an 8-5 win over Cedarville in game two.

Game 1

THE BASICS:
Location: Bill Gatton Field (Wise, Va.)
score: UVA Wise 11, UC 10
Records: UC 0–1 (0–0 MEC) | UVA Wise 1–0 (0–0 SAC)

How it Happened:
Charleston threatened early but was held scoreless through the first two innings, despite putting runners on base in both frames. UVA Wise capitalized first in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on a combination of walks, extra-base hits, and unearned runs to take a 4–0 lead.

The Golden Eagles responded in the top of the third. Charleston loaded the bases through a series of walks and singles before a five-run outburst flipped the game. RBI contributions from multiple hitters, along with aggressive base running and a key error, pushed UC ahead 5–4. UVA Wise answered immediately in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 5–5 on a solo home run to left-center field.

After a scoreless fourth inning for Charleston, UVA Wise regained momentum in the bottom half, plating three runs on two hits to take an 8–5 advantage. Charleston mounted another rally in the fifth inning, erupting for five runs on four hits. Key RBI swings and a wild pitch allowed the Golden Eagles to reclaim the lead at 10–8.

The lead was short-lived. UVA Wise responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two-RBI double, to take an 11–10 lead. Charleston threatened late, putting runners in scoring position in the seventh, but was unable to deliver the tying run as the game ended on a strikeout.
   
The Basics:
Location: Bill Gatton Softball Field
Score: UC 8, Cedarville 5
Records: UC 1–1 (0–0 MEC) | Cedarville 0–6 (0–0 G-MAC)

How It Happened:
Cedarville struck first in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a fielding error to score an unearned run and grab an early 1–0 lead. Charleston flipped the game in the top of the third with a decisive four-run inning. After loading the bases, a bases-clearing triple to left-center drove in three runs, and a wild pitch added another to give UC a 4–1 advantage.

Cedarville countered in the bottom of the third with four runs of its own, including a two-RBI single and a two-run home run, swinging the lead back in favor of the Yellow Jackets, 5–4.
The Golden Eagles answered in the fifth. After stringing together hits and capitalizing on aggressive baserunning, Charleston scored three runs to retake the lead, highlighted by a two-RBI double to left-center and a run scored on a wild pitch.

Charleston added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. A single through the right side plated the eventual game-winning run, extending the lead to 8–5. Cedarville threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on base, but Charleston's pitching staff shut the door, recording consecutive strikeouts to secure the win.  
Up Next:
Charleston continues a play on Saturday, Feb. 14, Another doubleheader at Bill Gatton Softball Field. The Golden Eagles will face Cedarville at 2:00 p.m., followed by UVA Wise at 4:00 p.m.