/
.
UVa Softball Finishes Second At Lady Vol Spring Invitational
Story Links
April 8, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Virginia softball team scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a three-run deficit for a 9-6 victory over Stephen F. Austin Sunday (April 8) in the Lady Vol Spring Invitational at Tyson Park. In their second game of the day, the Cavaliers lost 3-1 to Tennessee. UVa finished second in the tournament with a 4-2 record, while host Tennessee earned the tournament title. Virginia is now 37-11 on the season.
Virginia lead 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning, but Stephen F. Austin (16-23) rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead. Trailing 6-3 in the seventh inning, the Cavaliers scored six runs on five hits to rally for a 9-6 victory over the Lady Jacks. Fourth-year right fielder Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury), who was four for four in the game, drove in the first two runs in the seventh with a double. Young scored the third run of the inning on a double by second-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei). Rojas scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by first-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln).
Two of Young’s four hits in the game were doubles and she also scored four runs and drove in two. Rojas was two for two with three RBI, while first-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) was two for four with a RBI. Dennis picked up her 13th victory of the season with 2.2 innings of relief in place of third-year starter Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco). Dennis gave up one run on two hits and struck out three. Allinder pitched the first 4.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits. Cassie Hinton took the loss for Stephen F. Austin as she pitched one inning and gave up UVa’s final three runs in the seventh inning.
UVa fell to Tennessee 3-1 in the `Hoos final game of the tournament. Dennis (13-5) took the loss for the Cavaliers. In a complete-game effort, Dennis gave up three runs on nine hits and struck out 10 while walking one. Stephanie Humphrey earned the victory for Tennessee (18-27). The Lady Vols took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run double by Janette Koshell. Virginia cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by Young. Tennessee came right back and scored a third run in the next frame to make the score 3-1.
Young was two for four in the game, including her second home run of the season, while Rojas, third-year center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) and first-year designated player Tracy Sherman (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) had two hits apiece for the Cavaliers.
Virginia’s Dennis, Field and Owings were named to the Lady Vol Spring Invitational All-Tournament team.
Virginia returns to action on Saturday, April 14 when it hosts Georgia Tech in an ACC doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. at The Park in Charlottesville.