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Virginia Softball Takes Three Games In Cavalier Classic
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March 20, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team erupted for 28 runs on 34 hits en route to victories over Campbell, La Salle and Towson Saturday (March 20) in the Cavalier Classic, which is being held at The Park. The Cavaliers began the day with an 11-2 five-inning win over Campbell. UVa then notched a 7-2 win over La Salle, before completing the successful day with a 10-2 six-inning win over Towson. With the three wins, Virginia improves to 4-1 in the tournament and now stand at 17-15 on the season.
In other Cavalier Classic action, Youngstown State improved to 3-1 in the tourney with a 5-3 eight-inning win over Rutgers and a 9-7 victory over Campbell. Rutgers, which stands at 3-1 in the tournament, defeated Campbell 4-1. Towson is 2-2 in the tourney and in addition to its 10-2 loss to UVa, the Tigers defeated La Salle 8-7 in eight innings. LaSalle is 0-4 in the tournament, while Campbell is 0-3.
Against Campbell, second-year third baseman Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) went 3-3 with two doubles and a home run, drove in three runs and scored three times in the Cavaliers’ 11-2 five-inning victory. First-year pitcher Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) allowed just one hit and two unearned runs in registering the complete-game victory. Tolar’s bid for a no-hitter was ruined with one out in the fifth inning when Campbell’s Ashleigh Wheeler hit a double down the right field line. She struck out five and walked three in improving to 4-3 on the season. Third-year Lauren Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) drove in three runs, while fourth-year Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) had two hits, scored two runs and drove in another.
Fourth-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) and first-year third baseman Amy McKean (Kent, Wash./Kentlake) both hit home runs with McKean’s being of the inside the park variety, in Virginia’s 7-2 win over La Salle. Dennis was 2-2 with two RBI, while Field, Owings, and first-year catcher Michelle Salmiery (San Jose, Calif./Westmont) each had two hits as well. Fourth-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) earned the win in the circle to improve to 6-6 on the season. Barstad allowed two runs (one earned) on just two hits while striking out five and walking six.
The Cavaliers cruised to a 10-2 six-inning win over Towson. Field got UVa off to a good start with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. First-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz./University) was 4-4, including a triple, with two runs scored and two RBI. Second-year center fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) was 2-2 with three RBI, while Owings added her fifth and sixth hits of the day. Second-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) picked up the complete-game win to improve to 7-6 on the season. She allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits. She also struck out six batters while walking three.
The Cavalier Classic concludes Sunday (March 21) with two round-robin games (Rutgers vs. La Salle and Youngstown State vs. Towson) at 11:00 a.m. UVa has completed round-robin play and will await the results of the two 11:00 a.m. games to determine whom it plays in the championship game at 1:00 p.m.