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April 15, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team received outstanding pitching performances from first-year Christina Grimm (Los Osos, Calif./Morro Bay) and third-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) in sweeping a doubleheader from Liberty Tuesday (April 15) at The Park. Grimm and Barstad combined to strike out 21 batters as the Cavaliers won 5-2 in the first game and 3-2 in nine innings in the nightcap. With the two wins, UVa improves to 28-19 on the season, while Liberty falls to 12-27.
In the 5-2 win in the first game, Grimm struck out a career-high eight batters, while Barstad tallied a career-best 13 strikeouts in UVa’s nine-inning 3-2 victory in the second game. The two UVa pitchers issued only two walks in the doubleheader as well.
Virginia fourth-year first baseman Ruby Rojas (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) broke up a scoreless game one with a solo home run to right center to lead off the bottom of the fourth. First-year catcher Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) followed with a single and came around to score on third-year third baseman Tracy Sherman’s (San Clemente, Calif./St. Margaret’s Episcopal) single up the middle. Liberty’s Lauren Hahn broke up Grimm’s perfect game with a one-out double to left in the fifth. The Flames cut UVa’s lead to 2-1 later in the inning when Amanda Goc hit a run-scoring single to left center.
UVa increased its lead to 3-1 in the fifth when second-year second baseman Lauren Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base. She scored on Larquier’s third single of the game. UVa increased its lead to 5-1 in the sixth when Grimm helped her own cause with a two-run double to left center that scored first-year pinch runner Rachel Goings (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany) and fourth-year left fielder Johanna Kaiser (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro). Liberty’s Mary Beth Kennell made the final score 5-2 with a solo home run in the seventh inning.
In the complete-game effort, Grimm (10-5) allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits, in addition to her career-best eight strikeouts. She issued only one walk. Liberty’s Ali Thompson (6-16) took the loss on the mound. In five innings, she gave up three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two.
In game two, after a shaky first inning in which she allowed one run on three hits, Barstad settled down and held Liberty in check the rest of the way in UVa’s 3-2 victory. In a nine inning complete-game effort, Barstad (6-5) allowed two runs on eight hits with only one walk and a career-best 13 strikeouts. The Flames’ Adrienne Daniels (0-2) pitched well in defeat as she gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 8.2 innings of work. She struck out two and walked only one batter. Liberty took a 1-0 in the top of the first inning when Amanda Maska hit a two-out single and Kennell followed with a double to left center that scored Maska. The Cavaliers took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Larquier’s two-run homer to left field. Rojas, who singled down the left field line earlier in the inning, also scored on Larquier’s 11th homer of the season.
The Flames came back to tie the game at 2-2 with a single tally in the sixth. Hahn blasted a two-out double to left and scored on Lauren Terry’s single to center field. UVa had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kaiser led off with a double off the fence in left, but she was thrown out at home later in the inning after a throw from left field got away from Liberty’s catcher. The Flames recovered in time to get Kaiser out at home. Liberty loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Barstad got a strikeout and a line out to center to get out of the jam. The Cavaliers eventually won the game in the bottom of the ninth. First-year right fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) was placed on second to begin the ninth in accordance to the international tie-breaker. With one out, Larquier was intentionally walked and then Sherman singled sharply down the left field line to load the bases. After Kaiser popped up to second base, second-year pinch hitter Jenn Wynn (Herndon, Va./Herndon) ended the drama with a two-out single to the base of the wall in center field that scored Taylor with the game-winning run.
The Cavaliers return to action on Thursday, April 17 when they travel to Blacksburg, Va. for a doubleheader against in-state rival Virginia Tech. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.