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Virginia Softball Earns 3-2 Victory Over North Carolina
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April 17, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Virginia softball team broke a 2-2 tie with an unearned run in the sixth inning to defeat North Carolina 3-2 Sunday (April 17) at the UNC Softball Complex. With the victory, the Cavaliers won two of three games in the series and remain in second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with a 7-4 record. UVa is 20-25 overall on the season. The Tar Heels fall to 30-23 overall and 5-7 in the conference.
Virginia broke a 2-2 tie with an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning. Second-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz./University) drew a walk to lead off the inning. With one out, Crockett moved to second base on a passed ball and reached third on the play on a throwing error by UNC’s catcher. Fourth-year catcher Jenn Wynn (Herndon, Va./Herndon) brought Crockett home with what proved to be the game-winning run with a suicide squeeze bunt.
The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With one out, Crockett drew a walk and advanced to third on third-year All-American third baseman Sara Larquier’s (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) double down the left field line. It was Larquier’s team-leading 12th double of the season. Wynn was intentionally walked to load the bases. First-year shortstop Kierstie Cameron (Pinon Hills, Calif./Serrano) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to force in Crockett with the first run of the game. UVa extended its lead to 2-0 with a single tally in the fourth inning. Third-year center fielder Jackie Greer (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) was hit by a pitch with one out. Third-year right fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy) and Crockett followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. North Carolina brought in Alison Yin to relieve starter Ashley Allen. Larquier greeted Yin with a RBI single down the left field that scored Crockett from third to give UVa a 2-0 lead.
North Carolina erased the Cavaliers’ lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Jessica Young’s two-run homer to right center. Marissa May, who led off the inning with a bunt single, also scored on the home run.
Second-year pitcher Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) picked up the victory in the circle. Tolar (9-11) pitched the first five innings and gave up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Third-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon), who tossed a shutout in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, pitched the final two innings to earn her second save of the season and school record tying fifth career save. In the two innings, Horn allowed one hit while striking out three batters.
Allen pitched the first 3.1 innings for North Carolina and gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Yin (7-4) threw 1.2 innings of relief work and was saddled with the loss. Yin allowed one unearned run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Cox pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit and registering a pair of strikeouts.
The Cavaliers return to action on Thursday (April 21) when they travel to Radford, Va., for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against Radford.