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April 2, 2002

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team received a pair of strong pitching performances in sweeping a doubleheader from Marshall 7-3 and 3-1 Tuesday (April 2) at The Park. Second-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) and fourth-year Erin Allinder (Norco, Calif./Norco) limited the Thundering Herd to a total of six hits and did not allow an earned run in the two games. With the two victories, UVa extended its home winning streak to 30 games and improved to 32-13 on the season. Marshall falls to 10-16 with the two losses.

In the 7-3 victory in the first game, Virginia committed three errors in allowing three unearned in the top of the fourth inning. The Cavaliers cut the deficit to 3-1 when second-year third baseman Tracy Sherman (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) doubled to drive in fourth-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon). Dennis led off the fourth inning with a double. UVa took the lead for good on third-year Ruby Rojas’ (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) three-run homer. First-year right fielder Valerie Sevilla (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) and fifth-year center fielder Kelly McCabe (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) both scored on Rojas’ seventh round-tripper of the season. Dennis then launched her seventh home run of the season to increase the Cavalier advantage to 5-3. UVa added two insurance runs in the sixth with McCabe accounting for the final run with a triple that scored Sevilla.

Barstad gave up three unearned runs on four hits in improving to 6-2 in the circle. She struck out six without walking a batter. Sarah Chamberlain (3-4) took the loss for Marshall as she allowed seven runs on 12 hits. Sevilla went three for four with two runs scored for Virginia, while McCabe, Rojas and Dennis each had a pair of hits.

Allinder limited Marshall to two hits in UVa’s 3-1 victory in the nightcap. She gave up one unearned run in improving to 5-2 in the circle. The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. McCabe singled, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. She then scored when Dennis’ infield popup was misplayed. UVa increased its lead to 2-0 in the third. First-year right fielder M.K. White (Vienna, Va./James Madison) led off the inning with a double to right and advanced to third McCabe’s groundout. White scored when Rojas laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt that ended up being a base hit.

The Thundering Herd cut UVa’s lead in half with a run in the fifth inning. Carrie Dean reached on an error and then scored on Nikki Wilcox’s triple to right field. Virginia answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 3-1. Second-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) doubled to center field to lead off the inning. With one out, second-year Stephanie Calhoun (Spring Valley, Calif./Mount Miguel) delivered Field with a pinch hit single to left center.

McCabe had a pair of hits in the second contest and also scored a run. Wilcox had both of Marshall’s hits in the game. Randi Nielsen (3-6) took the loss for the Thundering Herd. She allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits while striking out four and walking four.

UVa returns to action on Wednesday (April 3) when it travels to Salem, Virginia for a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader against in-state rival Virginia Tech.

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