Virginia Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Drexel In Hoo's Who Tournament
Story Links
March 22, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team swept a doubleheader from Drexel with 11-2 and 2-0 victories Friday (March 22) in the first day of the 2002 Hoo’s Who Tournament at The Park. In other first-day action, Penn State posted 4-1 and 10-0 wins over Wright State. The Cavaliers now stand at 25-10 on the season, while Drexel falls to 2-15. The Nittany Lions improve to 10-11 with their two wins and Wright State drops to 4-10.
The Cavaliers pounded out 18 hits in defeating Drexel 11-2 in the first game of the doubleheader. Second-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) earned the victory in the circle as she gave up two runs on four hits. Barstad (5-1) walked one batter and struck out one and also helped her own cause with three hits and three runs scored. Fourth-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) had two hits and four RBI, while third-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) added a double and a triple. Rojas drove in two runs and scored once. Second-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln), second-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty), first-year right fielder M.K. White (Vienna, Va./James Madison) and second-year third baseman Tracy Sherman (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) each had a pair of hits in the game. UVa scored a single run in the top of the third and broke the game open with six runs in the fourth. The Dragons’ Elizabeth Fuller (0-5) took the loss as she allowed six runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings of work.
In the second game against Drexel, first-year pitcher Valerie Sevilla (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) threw a five-hit shutout. She struck out a career-high 10 batters while walking two in improving to 6-3 on the season. The Cavaliers scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the third inning. Sevilla led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on Field’s sacrifice bunt. Sevilla then scored on Dennis’ single to right field. In the fifth inning, fifth-year center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) scored an unearned run to give UVa a 2-0 advantage. Drexel loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, but Sevilla got a strikeout and a grounder to third to get out of the jam. Laura Tynio (2-6) was the losing pitcher as she allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. She walked five Cavaliers and struck out one.
Penn State hit four home runs in posting 4-1 and 10-0 wins over Wright State in the other doubleheader Friday. Left fielder Megan Humphrey hit a pair of home runs, while right fielder Jackie Dabrowski and catcher Erica Greenberg also homered. Humphrey hit a two-run homer to help lead the Nittany Lions to a 4-1 victory in the first game. PSU’s Marisa Hanson (5-4) picked up the win in the first game with five innings of one-hit pitching. Wright State’s Kristin Bultinck (3-4) took the loss as she allowed four runs on six hits.
In its 10-0 win, Penn State pounded out 22 hits with four Nittany Lions collecting three hits apiece. Shana Riggleman (2-0) gave up only two hits in five innings of work in earning the victory. The Raiders’ Nikki Scott (1-6) was the losing pitcher.
The 2002 Hoo’s Who Tournament continues Saturday with two doubleheaders. Penn State will play two games against Drexel beginning at 12 noon. UVa plays Wright State in a twinbill starting at 1:00 p.m.