Bryse Wilson: After nearly earning his second win of the season last week for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wilson had another strong outing in his first-ever visit to Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sunday. Wilson struck out five over five innings as the Pirates defeated Baltimore 8-1. Wilson surrendered just one run off four hits. The run was supplied by Jorge Mateo, who hit a solo homer in the third inning. After the victory, Wilson is now 2-6 with a 5.86 ERA. Last Tuesday, Wilson threw five-and-one-thirds innings in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Wilson surrendered three runs off six hits. He struck out two. After leaving the game with one out in the sixth inning, the Pirates trailed 3-0. But Pittsburgh scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth and never trailed again. Pittsburgh has won four of its last six games. Wilson will start on Friday against San Francisco at Oracle Park.
Mia Davidson: The all-time home run hitter in Southeastern Conference softball history delivered the first professional dingers of her career this weekend. Once again, Davidson was selected to play for Team Eberle in Athletes Unlimited for a three-game series at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL. On Saturday, Davidson hit her first professional home run with a solo blast to left field for Team Eberle against Team Mulipola. Davidson finished 1-3 and with 50 points (40 for the home run, ten points for Team Eberly winning the 1st inning) as Team Mulipola won 8-2. On Friday, Team Eberle defeated Team Harshman 5-1. Davidson earned 120 points (50 points for the win and 70 points for winning all seven innings), though she finished 0-for-2. On Sunday, Davidson hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. She finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and came away with 70 points (40 for the home run, 30 for Team Eberle winning two innings). Through two weeks of action, Davidson is hitting .214 with two home runs and three RBIs. She is currently 20th among Athletes Unlimited players with 530 points. Despite the two home runs, Davidson fell eight spots in the individual standings this week because Team Eberle went 1-2 for the weekend. Davidson will be drafted on a new team on Monday afternoon for next weekend’s three-game series starting Friday night.
Kayla Hodges: After four years at Elon, Kayla Hodges made her unofficial debut for the Virginia Commonwealth women’s soccer team just a few miles from where she played her high school soccer. Hodges suited up against UNC at Anson Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill. Hodges played 85 minutes on the defensive backline. The Tar Heels won 5-0. The Rams will play another exhibition game against Old Dominion in Norfolk, VA on Friday, then start its regular season at James Madison in Harrisonburg, VA on August 18.
Payton Wilson: After missing ten games last season after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Mississippi State, Wilson returned to the practice field for N.C. State last week. Wilson, who is a redshirt junior, went into detail about his problems after he suffered the injury to the Raleigh News and Observer’s Kyle Williams. Wilson told CBS Sports that “This is the best his body has ever felt.” During ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last month, Wilson was chosen to the All-ACC Preseason Defensive team as a linebacker.
Trenton Gill: Last week, former Cedar Ridge punter Trenton Gill started training camp for the Chicago Bears in Bourbonnais, IL. Several Bears-related media outlets have already pegged Gill as a lock to make the 53-man final roster. Chicago will play its first exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Solider Field on Saturday afternoon.