/
.
Virginia Softball Registers 5-1 Win Over Connecticut In Bracket Play Of Buzz Classic
Story Links
March 4, 2006
MARIETTA, Ga. – The University of Virginia softball team opened bracket play of the Buzz Classic with a 5-1 win over Connecticut Saturday evening (Mar. 4) at the Al Bishop Softball Complex. The Cavaliers, who are seeded seventh in bracket play, advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament and will face second-seeded Oklahoma State at 9:00 a.m. Sunday (Mar. 5). The win over UConn (2-3) caps off a long day for UVa, which saw it win three games. The Cavaliers’ day began with a 9:00 a.m. game against South Dakota State (5-2 eight-inning win) and then UVa played Evansville right after its first game and won 5-3. Virginia now stands at 10-3 on the season.
Virginia scored single runs in the first three frames to take a 3-0 lead. UVa took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when third-year catcher Amy McKean (Kent, Wash.) hit two-out double to left field that scored fourth-year center fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa.). Taylor reached on a bunt single and then stole second base to get into scoring position. The Cavaliers made the score 2-0 in the second inning. Fourth-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla.) led off the inning with a single to third base and promptly stole second base. A sacrifice by third-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz.) moved Horn to third and she scored on fourth-year right fielder Jackie Greer’s (Portage, Mich.) bunt single. Second-year first baseman Whitney Holstun (Escondido, Calif.) increased the lead to 3-0 with a lead off homer to right field in the third frame.
UConn scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning. Kim Castner doubled to left center with one out and eventually scored on an infield single by Allie Gendron. The Cavaliers added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory. Crockett led off with a double to right center and moved to third on second-year shortstop Lindsey Preuss’ (La Plata, Md.) sacrifice. With two outs, fourth-year third baseman Sara Larquier (Burbank, Calif.) drew a walk and then stole second base. Taylor then delivered a two-run double to right field to make the score 5-1.
Horn went the distance in the circle to improve to 3-1 on the season. She allowed one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Rachael Crossin (1-1) took the loss in the circle for the Huskies. She gave up five runs on seven hits with five walks and three strikeouts.