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March 14, 2001
CONWAY, S.C. – The Virginia softball team advanced to the championship game of the 2001 Coastal Carolina University Softball Classic with a 4-0 win over Illinois, but dropped a 4-0 decision to East Carolina in the championship game on Wednesday, March 14. Virginia entered the championship round as the number one seed after finishing round-robin play with a 3-1 record. The Cavaliers conclude the tournament with a 4-2 mark and stand at 17-8 on the season.
The Cavaliers avenged their only round-robin loss with a 4-0 victory over fifth-seeded Illinois (15-10) in the semifinals. The game was scoreless through four innings, but that changed with one swing of the bat as third-year Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) belted a grand slam home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. All four runs were unearned as third-year center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) and second-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) both reached base on errors by Illinois infielders. Fourth-year right fielder Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) was the first Cavalier to reach base as she singled to right field with one out. Dennis’ homer was her team-leading seventh of the season, which is just one shy of the school record.
Dennis was also brilliant in the circle as she allowed just two hits in picking up her sixth win and second shutout of the season. Dennis (6-3) struck out eight batters and did not allow a walk.
In the championship game, East Carolina’s Lisa Paganini allowed just three UVa hits and the Pirates took advantage of two Cavalier errors to post a 4-0 win over Virginia. Third-year Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco) was the hard-luck loser as she allowed four runs (only one earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Allinder falls to 5-1 on the season. First-year Jessica Edwards (Santa Ana, Calif./Orange Lutheran) pitched the final 2.2 innings and did not allow a hit.
Third-seeded East Carolina (23-7) took advantage of a UVa throwing error in the top of the first inning to score a pair of unearned runs. The Pirates scored another unearned run in the top of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 3-0 before adding an insurance run in the fifth.
The Cavaliers return to action when they compete in the Winthrop Invitational March 16-18 in Rock Hill, S.C. Virginia opens play in the tournament on Friday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. when they face Robert Morris. UVa then plays Towson at 6:00 p.m. Friday.