Virginia Softball Posts One-Run Victories Over Bowling Green And Bradley in Worth/Icebreaker Tournament
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Feb. 24, 2002
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Virginia softball team defeated Bowling Green 3-2 and Bradley 2-1 Sunday (February 24) at Tech Softball Field in the Worth/Icebreaker Tournament. The Cavaliers were 4-1 in the tournament and now stands at 9-3 on the season.
In its first game of the day, Virginia defeated Bowling Green 3-2 with fourth-year pitcher Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco) picking up her first victory of the season. Allinder allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 5.1 innings of work. Third-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) earned a save with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Dennis, who pitched two no-hitters in the tournament, allowed two hits and struck out four.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Virginia scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. With one out, Dennis walked and then first-year pinch runner MK White (Vienna, Va./James Madison) scored on second-year catcher Stephanie Calhoun’s (Spring Valley, Calif./Mount Miguel) double. Calhoun advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Bowling Green’s right fielder misplayed a ball hit by third-year second baseman Jill Bumler (Montclair, Va./Bishop O’Connell). Bumler scored the third run of the inning on another Bowling Green error. The Falcons scored a run in the top of the fifth inning to cut the UVa lead to 3-2, but Dennis closed the door with 1.2 innings of shutout relief.
McKenna Houle was the tough-luck loser for the Falcons (2-3) as she allowed three runs (one earned) while giving up only four hits.
The Cavaliers closed out the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Bradley. Second-year pitcher Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) earned her second win of the season as she allowed one run on five hits. She lost her bid for a shutout when Bradley’s Stefanie Cheney hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh.
UVa scored single runs in the fourth and sixth frames. Second-year Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) drove in third-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) with the first run of the game with a two-out single in the fourth. Rojas had reached base on a walk. The Cavaliers plated the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on Dennis’ sacrifice fly that scored graduate student center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin). McCabe singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on Rojas’ sacrifice bunt. McCabe advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on the sacrifice fly by Dennis.
Sandra Britt took the loss for Bradley (1-2) as she gave up two runs on five hits.
Virginia returns to action March 1-3 when it opens the home portion of its schedule by hosting the 2002 Cavalier Classic at The Park in Charlottesville. In addition to Virginia, Appalachian State, Bowling Green, Morehead State, Rider and Tennessee with compete in the tournament. Games begin each day at 9:00 a.m.