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UVa Softball Wins Two Games At Lady Vol Spring Invitational
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April 6, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Virginia softball team opened play in the Lady Vol Spring Invitational with a pair of victories Friday (April 6) at Tyson Park. The Cavaliers defeated Centenary 12-4 in their first game, then posted a 2-1 victory over Tennessee to improve to 2-0 in the three-day tournament. With the two victories, UVa improves to 35-9 on the season.
In the 12-4 six-inning win over Centenary, third-year first baseman Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) and first-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) combined to go five for seven with eight RBI and score four runs. Dennis was three for three with four RBI and three runs, while Field went two for four with a home run, four RBI and one run. First-year Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) had a pair of hits and also drove in two runs, while second-year second baseman Jill Bumler (Montclair, Va./Bishop O’Connell) scored four runs.
Third-year Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco) earned the win for the Cavaliers with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Allinder, who improved to 10-1 on the year with the win, allowed one hit and struck out three batters. First-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) started in the circle and allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work.
After Centenary scored a single run in the top of the first, UVa took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dennis and Field had RBI singles in the first inning. Field ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three-run homer to center, which halted the game due to the eight-run rule.
In their second game, the Cavaliers avenged an early season loss to Tennessee with a 2-1 victory over the Lady Vols. Dennis picked up the win for Virginia with a complete-game effort. Dennis (12-4) allowed five hits and struck out eight batters. She lost her bid for the shutout when Tennessee’s Adrianna Wilson hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Field continued her hot hitting with a two for three effort. She gave the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a double that plated third-year center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin). McCabe reached base on an error by Tennessee shortstop Annie Fletcher. In the top of the sixth inning, UVa increased its lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by Bumler that scored Field. Field led off the inning with a double to right center.
Virginia will play two more games in the Lady Vol Spring Invitational on Saturday. The Cavaliers face Centenary at 12 noon and Stephen F. Austin at 2:00 p.m.