Virginia Softball Splits Pair Of 1-0 Games With James Madison
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March 30, 2005
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The University of Virginia softball team split a pair of pitcher’s duels with James Madison Thursday (March 30) at the JMU Softball Complex. The Cavaliers were on the short end of a 1-0 game in the first contest, but turned the tables on James Madison with a 1-0 victory in the nightcap. UVa now stands at 13-18 on the season, while the Duke are 14-17.
In the first game, James Madison scored what proved to be the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Brianna Carrera led off the inning with a double to center field and eventually came around to score on Liz George’s sacrifice fly.
The Cavaliers threatened in the top of the seventh, but could not push the tying run across the plate. Third-year third baseman Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. With one out, first-year Kat Mirras (Montauk, N.Y./East Hampton), who was pinch running for Larquier, moved to second when second-year first baseman Brooke Sorber’s (Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon) line drive was misplayed by the right fielder for an error. First-year shortstop Lindsey Preuss (La Plata, Md./La Plata) then drew a walk to load the bases. James Madison’s Renee’ Bounds got second-year pinch hitter Lara Rodriguez (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) to a popup to shortstop by to end the game.
Bounds out-dueled second-year pitcher Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) in picking up the win. Bounds (3-4) allowed just two hits in registering the shutout. She struck out three batters and walked four. Tolar was the tough-luck losing pitcher, falling to 5-7 on the season. After giving up the run in the first inning, Tolar shut out the Dukes the rest of the way. She allowed six hits while striking out four and walking one.
In addition to Larquier’s single in the seventh, Sorber had UVa’s other hit in the game, a bunt single in the second inning.
In the second game, third-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) scattered seven hits in registering her second shutout of the season. Horn (4-4) struck out six batters and walked two. Liz George (6-5) took the loss in the circle. She allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
Virginia broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Second-year right fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) led off the sixth with a double to right field. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt, Taylor scored the lone run of the game on Larquier’s double to right center.
Larquier and Taylor both had two hits in the second game with Taylor registering a double and a triple. First-year shortstop Kierstie Cameron (Pinon Hills, Calif./Serrano) also had a double for UVa.
The Cavaliers return to action on this weekend when they host 19th-ranked Georgia Tech in a three-game series at The Park. A doubleheader will be played Saturday (April 2) at noon, followed by a single game Sunday at noon.