Story Links
April 2, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After notching a relatively easy 6-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader with East Carolina, the Virginia softball team scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to post a 6-5 victory in game two against the Pirates Wednesday (April 2) at The Park. With the doubleheader sweep, UVa improves to 25-16 on the season, while East Carolina falls to 17-19.
The Cavaliers used four hits, including a pair of pinch hits, to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over East Carolina in the nightcap. Fourth-year third baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) capped off the comeback by roping a two-run double down the left field line that scored fourth-year center fielder Katie Weinberg (Reston, Va./South Lakes) and first-year right fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) with the tying and winning runs. Second-year Jenn Wynn (Herndon, Va./Herndon) got the comeback started with a pinch hit single to right field. Second-year Lauren Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) pinch ran for Wynn and advanced to third when first-year Christina Grimm (Los Osos, Calif./Morro Bay) registered a pinch hit double to right center. After an infield pop up, Taylor plated Dennis with a single to right. Weinberg, who re-entered the game for Grimm moved to second on the hit. Weinberg and Taylor then scored on Rojas’ 14th double of the year.
Virginia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Taylor singled up the middle and Rojas walked. Taylor score on third on first-year second baseman Sara Larquier’s (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) single. Rojas and Larquier then scored on third-year designated player Tracy Sherman’s (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) single to right center. The Pirates tied the game at 3-3 with one run in the second and two runs in the third. Krista Jessup drove in two of ECU’s three runs with a pair of doubles. East Carolina took a 5-3 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. Christine Sheridan scored on a throwing error and Lacassa Hill crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Kristen Johnson. Virginia came back to win the game with its three-run seventh inning.
First-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) earned the victory with one inning of relief work to improve to 12-7 on the season. She struck out two ECU batters with the bases loaded in the seventh. Third-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) pitched the first six innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Brittany Boyd (6-4) took the loss in relief of Maggie Lingo. Boyd gave up one run on two hits in one-third on an inning of work.
The Cavaliers registered a 6-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. Grimm limited East Carolina to one run on three hits in improving to 8-4 in the circle with the complete-game effort. She struck out four batters while walking two. Brently Bridgeforth (7-7) took the loss as she allowed six runs on four hits in three innings of work.
Virginia jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Wynn walked with the bases loaded to force in the first run and with two outs, fourth-year left fielder Johanna Kaiser (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) laced a two-run single to right center. Third-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) scored the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch. UVa extended its lead to 6-0 on Larquier’s two-run homer to center field in the third. It was Larquier’s team-leading 10th home run of the season. The Pirates broke up Grimm’s shutout bid when Kate Manuse hit a solo home run in the sixth.
The Cavaliers open Atlantic Coast Conference action on Saturday, April 5 when they host Georgia Tech at The Park. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at noon.