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April 12, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Fourth-year Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla.) fired a complete-game shutout and then registered a save to lead the Virginia softball team to a doubleheader sweep over James Madison Wednesday (Apr. 12) at The Park. The Cavaliers rode Horn’s strong pitching performance to win the first game 4-0 and then took the nightcap 4-3 with Horn picking up the save. UVa now stands at 22-17 on the season, while the Dukes fall to 16-20.
In the opener, Horn tossed a three-hit shutout to improve to 9-7 on the season. She struck out 14 batters and walked only one in registering her second shutout of the season. Horn notched her second save of the season in the nightcap. She pitched the final two innings and allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts and one walk. In nine innings of work in the circle, Horn struck out 17 JMU batters. Fourth-year center fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa.) was as impressive at the plate as Horn was in the circle. Taylor went 5-6 in the twinbill with four RBI, including a three-run triple to center field that gave UVa a 4-1 lead in the second game.
In the 4-0 win, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Third-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz.) singled up the middle to get things going. She advanced all the way to third base on Taylor’s bunt single. Crockett scored what proved to be the game-winning run when JMU pitcher Renee’ Bounds committed a fielding error on Horn’s ground ball. UVa added two runs in the third with Crockett and Taylor again figuring significantly. Crockett led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Bounds. She scored on Taylor’s single through the right side of the infield. Taylor then stole third base and scored on fourth-year shortstop Sara Larquier’s (Burbank, Calif.) RBI groundout that made the score 3-0. UVa added an insurance run in the sixth on a two-out bases loaded RBI single through the right side of the infield by Crockett.
Crockett and Taylor both had three hits in the game, while second-year left fielder Lindsey Preuss (La Plata, Md.) had two hits, including a double off the wall in left. Renee’ Bounds (1-8) took the loss for James Madison. In five innings, she allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits with nine strikeouts. Jenny Clohan pitched the final inning and gave up two hits.
In the nightcap, the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the third inning. Third-year first baseman Brooke Sorber (Alexandria, Va.) led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by JMU third baseman Amber Kirk. Fourth-year right fielder Jackie Greer (Portage, Mich.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on a throwing error by JMU first baseman Sally Smith, which also allowed Sorber to score. The Dukes evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth when Jenn Chavez and Katie George hit back-to-back doubles.
Virginia regained the lead in the fifth on Taylor’s two-out bases loaded triple to center field. Sorber got things started with a one-out double to right center. Greer then drew a walk and UVa loaded the bases on third-year third baseman Meghan O’Leary’s (Baton Rouge, La.) bunt single. Sorber was forced out at home on Crockett’s fielder’s choice grounder to third. Taylor then came through in the clutch with the bases clearing triple to give the Cavaliers a 4-1 lead. James Madison cut Virginia’s lead to 4-3 in the sixth on Julia Dominguez’s two-run homer to left center.
Second-year Karla Wilburn (Del Mar. Calif.) registered the win in the circle with two innings of relief in place of third-year Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga.). Wilburn (7-7) held JMU without a hit, but allowed one run while striking out one and walking one. She got the Cavaliers out of a jam in the fourth by retiring three consecutive batters with runners on second and third. Tolar pitched the first three innings and gave up one run on three hits with a strikeout and two walks. Horn got the final six outs to register the save. Meredith Felts (8-7) took the loss for JMU after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Taylor and Sorber both had three hits in the game for Virginia.
The Cavaliers return to action this weekend when they travel to College Park, Md., for a three-game series with Maryland. The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday (Apr. 15) at 1:00 p.m.