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April 21, 2002

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Virginia softball team registered a 3-2 win over Maryland in the first game of an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader Sunday (April 21) at the Terrapin Softball Complex. The second game of the doubleheader was called due to rain with the Cavaliers leading 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning. With the victory, UVa improves to 43-17 overall and 1-4 in the ACC, while Maryland drops to 26-18 overall and 0-3 in the ACC. The 43 wins are the second highest single season win total in the history of the Virginia softball program. Last season, the Cavaliers registered a school record 52 victories.

The second game of the doubleheader was called after a 30-minute rain delay. UVa was leading 2-1 with two outs and the bases loaded in the Terrapins’ half of the first inning. The game will be resumed at the point it was stopped on a date yet to be determined.

Virginia used a pair of home runs to win the first game 3-2. Third-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) hit a two-run homer in the fifth and fourth-year All-American Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) added a solo shot in the seventh. Dennis also earned the victory in the circle as she improved to 23-8 on the season. She held Maryland hitless for the first 5.2 innings before allowing a bunt single. In the complete-game effort, Dennis gave up two runs on four hits and struck out 12 batters while walking two. It marked the 11th time this season Dennis has reached double figures in strikeouts.

Rojas gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer to left field in the fifth. Rojas’ homer, her 11th of the season, was the first home run hit at Maryland’s brand new Terrapin Softball Complex. Second-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) led off the fifth with a double and scored on Rojas’ round tripper. UVa increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh on Dennis’ solo homer to left. She extended her own single season school record with her 13th homer of the year and it was also her school best 29th career home run.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Maryland began a rally as Malissa Moczulski hit a double and scored on Monica Cyphert’s homer to center. After a pinch hit single by Danielle Carpenter, Dennis got out of the inning when Jillian Callaway lined out to right field.

The Terrapins’ Amanda Bettker took the loss, falling to 11-11 on the season. She gave up three runs on four hits and walked seven while striking out five.

Second-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) notched the Cavaliers’ only other hit in the contest. Third-year catcher Brit Gore (Vienna, Va./James Madison) registered 12 putouts for UVa.

Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, April 24 when it hosts James Madison at The Park. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

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