UVa Softball Downs Sacramento State 4-2 In Capital Classic
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March 15, 2002
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Virginia softball team registered its third consecutive victory of the Capital Classic Softball Tournament with a 4-2 win over host Sacramento State Friday (March 15) at the Sacramento Softball Complex. The Cavaliers, who now stand at 21-8 on the season, conclude pool play in the tournament with a game against IUPUI at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time Friday night.
The Cavaliers jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. First-year pitcher Valerie Sevilla (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) and fourth-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) drew walks. With two outs and runners on first and second, second-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) singled to center field to score Sevilla from second. Second-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) then singled left to load the bases. Third-year left fielder Johanna Kaiser (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) was hit by a pitch to force home Dennis with the second run of the inning. Second-year designated player Stephanie Calhoun (Spring Valley, Calif./Mount Miguel) then walked with the bases loaded to force in Field with another run to make the score 3-0.
Kaiser scored the Cavaliers’ fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. She reached base on a Sacramento State error and eventually scored on Sevilla’s infield single.
The Hornets closed to the gap to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Sacramento State threatened to score more runs, but Sevilla induced a fly out to center field with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Sevilla allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, in improving to 5-2 on the season. She allowed nine hits, struck out two and walked two in a complete-game effort.
Gina Steenburgen (1-3) took the loss for Sacramento State. In two-thirds of an inning, she allowed three runs on two hits. Nicole Deatherage limited UVa to one run on five hits over the final 5.1 innings of the game.
After completing pool play with this evening’s game against IUPUI, the Cavaliers will begin bracket play on Saturday (March 16). The tournament concludes March 17.