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Virginia Softball Registers Pair Of Come-From-Behind Victories In Hoo's Who Tournament
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March 26, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team erased a pair of two-run deficits to register come-form-behind victories over Seton Hall and N.C. State Friday (March 26) in the first day of competition in the Hoo’s Who Tournament at The Park. The Cavaliers scored all nine of their runs in the final three at-bats in a 9-3 win over Seton Hall, then scored three runs in the top of the seventh in a 5-4 win over N.C. State. UVa is 2-0 in the tournament and improves to 21-16 on the season.
In other Hoo’s Who first-day tournament action, N.C. State, Penn State and Seton Hall are 1-1, and Binghamton is 0-2. In addition to its 5-4 loss to UVa, the Wolfpack defeated Penn State 4-1. Penn State recorded a 6-2 win over Binghamton to even its record at 1-1 in the tourney. Seton Hall began the day with a 4-3 win over Binghamton before falling to UVa 9-3.
Against Seton Hall, the Pirates tallied single runs in the top of the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. UVa trimmed the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth when third-year catcher Jenn Wynn (Herndon, Va./Herndon) doubled down the left field line to score fourth-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) from first base. Owings led off the inning with a single. The Cavaliers took the lead for good, 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Fourth-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) tripled down the right field line to score first-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz./University), who reached base via a walk. Field then scored on a RBI groundout by second-year center fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Gremantown Academy). Virginia erupted for six runs on five hits in the sixth inning. First-year right fielder Jackie Greer (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) drove in the first two runs with a single off the third baseman to put UVa ahead for good.
First-year pitcher Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) picked up the win with 4.1 innings of relief work. Horn (8-6) allowed one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Seton Hall’s Megan Meyer (10-1) suffered her first loss of the season as she allowed four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work.
Against N.C. State, Virginia strung together four hits to score three runs in the top of the seventh to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead. After a leadoff single by Crockett, Field, Owings and second-year third baseman Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) each had key RBI doubles in the inning. Larquier’s two-out double to center field scored Owings with what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Wolfpack threatened in the bottom of the seventh as its leadoff batter reached base on an infield error, but was gunned down at third on Crockett’s perfect relay throw from Greer in right field. With runners on first and third and one out, Horn replaced fourth-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) on the mound and promptly struck out the next two batters to earn her second save of the season.
Barstad (8-6) pitched two innings in relief of first-year starter Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) to earn the victory. Barstad allowed one run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. In 4.1 innings, Tolar gave up three runs on eight hits with one strikeout. Carla Shepherd (1-1) took the loss for NCSU, allowing two runs on three hits in one inning of relief work. Shaina Ervin pitched the first six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
Owings had five hits and three RBI in the two games, while Field had four hits, scored four runs and drove in two.
The Hoo’s Who Tournament continues Saturday with games beginning at 9:00 a.m. UVa plays Penn State at 1:00 p.m. and Binghamton at 3:00 p.m.