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March 22, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team recorded a 3-2 win over James Madison and a 4-1 victory over Penn State Saturday (March 22) at The Park to advance to the championship game of the 2003 Hoo’s Who Tournament. The Cavaliers, who improve to 3-1 in the tournament and 19-15 on the season, will play either Penn State or Tulsa in Sunday’s championship game, which will take place at 2:00 p.m. If Penn State defeats James Madison in the final game of pool play Sunday morning, the Nittany Lions advance to the championship game. A loss by Penn State against the Dukes drops the Nittany Lions into the 3rd-4th place game against Robert Morris and Tulsa moves into the title game.
In other games Saturday, Tulsa picked up a pair of victories, defeating James Madison 4-1 and Robert Morris 12-6. Penn State posted an 8-0 six-inning win over Robert Morris before falling to the Cavaliers 4-1. UVa and Tulsa are both 3-1 in the tournament, while Penn State is 2-1. Robert Morris is 1-3, while James Madison is 0-3.
In their 3-2 win over James Madison, the Cavaliers erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the top of the third inning. Second-year designated player Jenn Wynn (Herndon, Va./Herndon) hit a double that plated fourth-year first baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) and first-year catcher Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) scored on second-year right fielder M.K. White’s (Vienna, Va./James Madison) suicide squeeze bunt. Pinch runner Rachel Goings (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany) scored the game-winning run on third-year third baseman Tracy Sherman’s (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) groundout to third base. First-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) improved to 8-7 with the victory in the circle. She allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out four while walking three.
UVa advanced to the championship game of the tournament with a 4-1 win over Penn State (14-11). The Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but UVa answered with fourth runs in the top of the sixth. Third-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) drove in the first two runs with a double to right center. Owings then scored on Sherman’s single to right center. Sherman scored the fourth run on third-year shortstop Heather Field’s (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) single to left field. Penn State had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but the Cavaliers turned a double play to end the inning. Larquier caught a fly ball in short right field and threw home to Wynn who made the tag and held on to the ball in a collision with Penn State’s Gina Bianchini. First-year pitcher Christina Grimm (Los Osos, Calif./Morro Bay) earned her second win of the tournament as she allowed only one run on four hits in improving to 6-3 on the season.
Tulsa (20-12) opened Saturday’s play with a 4-1 win over James Madison. The Golden Hurricane scored three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Maren Genow (10-3) earned the victory with Ami Day picking up the first of her two saves on the day. Katie Torres had three hits for Tulsa while Julie Shafer registered two hits and two RBI.
The Golden Hurricane picked up its second win of the day with a 12-6 win over Robert Morris (3-14). Brandi McGuire led Tulsa with four hits, including two home runs and three RBI. Torres drove in three runs with a pair of hits, while Crissy Strimple had three hits and two RBI. Lindsey Dyer (3-4) was the winning pitcher with Day recording a save.
In its first game Saturday, Penn State (14-10) registered an 8-0 six-inning win over Robert Morris (3-14). The Nittany Lions’ Kelley Galigher was 4-4 with three RBI and two runs. Tina Skelly (5-5) earned the victory in the circle, limiting the Colonials to three hits over five innings.
The Hoo’s Who Tournament concludes Sunday (March 23) at The Park. The Cavaliers will play in the championship game at 2:00 p.m. Penn State and James Madison play the first game at 10:00 a.m. The 3rd place-4th place game will be played at noon.