UVa Softball Knocks Off Long Island 4-1 In Capital Classic
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March 16, 2002
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After falling to Miami University in the championship bracket earlier in the day, the Virginia softball defeated Long Island 4-1 Saturday (March 15) to advance in the consolation bracket. The Cavaliers, who improve to 23-9 with the victory, will play the winner of the Middle Tennessee State – IUPUI game Sunday (March 17) at 12 noon Eastern Time in the semifinals of the Capital Classic consolation bracket.
Virginia wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against Long Island as third-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) drilled a two-run homer, her fifth of the season, in the bottom of the first inning. Second-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) scored on Rojas’ home run after leading off the game with a single.
The Cavaliers increased their lead to 3-0 in the third inning. Fourth-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) reached on an error and then stole second base. After a groundout advanced Dennis to third, second-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) hit a double to bring home Dennis to make the score 3-0. UVa added an insurance run in the fifth inning when first-year pinch hitter Lauren Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) singled to drive in third-year left fielder Johanna Kaiser (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro). Kaiser reached base with a single and moved to second on Owings’ fielder’s choice grounder.
Long Island (5-14) scored its only run of the game with one out in the top of the seventh when first baseman Briana Mathiesen hit a home run.
Kristen Dennis (11-3) earned the victory in the circle for Virginia with a complete-game effort. She allowed one run on six hits and struck out nine batters while walking two. Jackie Brown (1-6) took the loss for LIU as she gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits. Brown walked four and struck out two.
Field was the only UVa player with more than one hit as she was two for three and scored a run.