UVa Softball Cruises To Doubleheader Sweep Over Liberty
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April 20, 2004
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team pounded out 29 hits and scored 19 runs in sweeping a doubleheader from Liberty on Tuesday (April 20) at Liberty University Softball Field. The Cavaliers won the first game 8-0 in five innings, then took the nightcap 11-3. UVa now stands at 32-23 on the season, while Liberty falls to 18-35.
Virginia hit four home runs in the doubleheader, including a school-record tying three home runs in the second game. All three home runs in game two came in the seventh inning with second-year Rachel Goings (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany) capping off the successful afternoon with a grand slam to center field. It marked Goings’ first career homer.
In Virginia’s 8-0 five-inning win in the first game, the Cavaliers notched 13 hits with all nine players in the starting lineup getting at least one hit. UVa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Fourth-year shortstop Heather Field (Lincoln, Calif./Lincoln) led off the game with an infield single and moved to second on first-year designated player Elea Crockett’s (Tucson, Ariz./University) sacrifice bunt. Fourth-year first baseman Hannah Owings’ (Issaquah, Wash./Liberty) single moved Field to third and she scored on third-year catcher Jenn Wynn’s (Herndon, Va./Herndon) sacrifice fly to right field. In the third, Field led off with a walk and moved to second on Crockett’s infield single. Field advanced to third on Wynn’s pop up and scored when Crockett was caught in a rundown trying to steal second base.
Virginia broke the 2-0 game open with six runs on eight hits in the fifth inning. Field led off the inning with a home run to left center, her eighth homer of the season. Wynn had a RBI double to left and third-year left fielder Lauren Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) added a two-run double to right center. First-year right fielder Lara Rodriguez (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) also had a RBI double to left center for her career-high third hit of the game and first-year third baseman Amy McKean (Kent, Wash./Kentlake) drove in the eighth run with a single to right field.
UVa fourth-year Joanna Barstad (Canby, Ore./Canby) tossed a four-hitter in picking up the shutout while improving to 11-8 on the season. Barstad, who allowed just two runners to reach second base, struck out five batters and did not issue a walk. The Flames’ Sarah Swor (12-11) took the loss in the circle. In 4.2 innings, she allowed eight runs on 11 hits.
In the second game, 10 Cavaliers combined for 16 hits. In the first inning, Field drew a lead-off walk and stole second. She advanced to third on Crockett’s single to left and scored on Owings’ single through the left side. UVa increased its lead to 2-0 in the second when Dennis singled through the left side with two outs, stole second base, and scored on second-year center fielder Jessica Taylor’s (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) double to right center. The Cavaliers put a pair of unearned runs on the board in the third inning to make the score 4-0. Field led off the inning with a double to left center and scored on a throwing error by Liberty’s second baseman on Owings’ fielder’s choice grounder. Owings moved to second on the play and scored on first-year catcher Michelle Salmiery’s (San Jose, Calif./Westmont) RBI single up the middle.
Liberty avoided a second shutout when it scored a pair of runs in the sixth. Amanda Maska led off the inning with a double to left and scored on Whitney Trigg’s double to right. Jamie Hahn, who reached on a third-strike wild pitch, prior to Trigg’s double, scored on Beth Hensley’s sacrifice fly. The Cavaliers answered Liberty’s two runs with seven tallies in the seventh, with six of the runs coming via home runs. Owings and McKean hit back-to-back solo home runs and then Goings smacked a grand slam to center field. Crockett delivered UVa’s 11th run of the game with a double to center field. The Flames added one run in the bottom half of the inning to make the final score 11-3.
First-year pitcher Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) picked up the complete-game victory in the circle. She improved to 8-7 while allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and five walks. Rachel Floyd (2-12) took the loss for Liberty. In 5.1 innings, she allowed 11 runs (eight earned) on 15 hits.
Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, April 21 when it hosts in-state rival James Madison at The Park. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.