Virginia Softball To Open ACC Play Against North Carolina

Story Links

April 2, 2004

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team begins Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday (April 3) when it hosts league rival North Carolina in a doubleheader at The Park. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled to begin at noon. Admission to the doubleheader is free of charge.

The Cavaliers, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Cheryl Sprangel, stand at 25-18 on the season. UVa is wrapping up an 18-game homestand with the doubleheader against North Carolina. Virginia is 12-4 in its homestand and is coming off a doubleheader sweep over Brown on March 31. The Cavaliers won the first game against Brown 7-5 and took the nightcap 9-0 in five innings.

North Carolina stands at 30-14 on the season and has won four games in a row and 14 of its last 15. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series 50-25-1 and won both meetings last season.

First-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz./University) leads the Cavaliers with a .363 (33-91) batting average, while fourth-year first baseman Hannah Owings (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) is hitting a career-best .350 (42-120) with 21 RBI. Fourth-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) is 39-119 for a .328 batting average. She has 26 RBI and leads the team with 38 walks, 36 runs and six home runs. Second-year second/third baseman Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) is hitting at a .326 (42-129) and has driven in a team-best 28 runs.