Virginia Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From George Mason
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April 25, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team snapped a four-game losing streak by sweeping a doubleheader from George Mason Wednesday afternoon (April 25) at The Park. Fourth-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz.) delivered a game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Cavaliers to a 3-2 win in the opener and first-year first baseman Kelly Haller (Leesburg, Va.) and fourth-year left fielder Brooke Sorber (Alexandria, Va.) combined for four hits and seven RBI in UVa’s 9-1 five-inning win in the nightcap. With the two wins, UVa improves to 17-34, while the Patriots fall to 15-32.
Third-year pitcher Whitney Holstun (Escondido, Calif.) recorded both victories in the circle for the Cavaliers. She pitched the final 2.1 innings in relief to capture the win in the first game and then threw four innings in the nightcap to garner her second win on the day and improve to 6-5 this year.
In the first game, George Mason used three consecutive singles to plate the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Meghan Hill hit a bloop single over shortstop with one out and moved to second on Kelsey Mack’s single through the left side of the infield. Becky Anderson then drove in Hill with a single. The Cavaliers tied the game at 1-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Third-year center fielder Lindsey Preuss (La Plata, Md.) reached on an error with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. She scored on second-year shortstop Kierstie Cameron’s (Pinon Hills, Calif.) bloop double down the right field line.
Cameron helped the Cavaliers take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning with her second RBI base hit of the game. Her single to right field scored first-year right fielder Sarah Tacke (Merced, Calif.) from second base. Tacke led off the inning with a double down the left field line. The Patriots came back to tie the game at 2-2 with an unearned run in the fifth. With one out Hill drew a walk and moved to second on an infield error. She scored from second base with two outs on Kristin Dickel’s bad hop base hit to short.
Virginia pulled out the victory with a run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Third-year Casey Steffan (Long Valley, N.J.), who was pinch hitting, drew a walk with one out and moved to second on Sorber’s grounder to third. Steffan raced home with the game-winning run on Crockett’s single to shallow right center. It marked Crockett’s 200th career hit.
Holstun registered the victory in relief for UVa. She pitched the final 2.1 innings to improve to 5-5 on the season. Holstun did not allow a hit while striking out one batter. Fourth-year Coty Tolar (Marietta, Ga.) went the first 4.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Becky Anderson went the distance for George Mason. In 6.2 innings, Anderson (6-14) was charged with three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Cameron had a pair of hits and drove in two runs in the first game, while Sorber was 2-for-4.
In the nightcap, Virginia scored all nine of its runs in the first three innings and cruised to the 9-1 victory. Sorber was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the first inning. She stole second and moved to third on Crockett’s bunt base hit. Both runners scored on Haller’s two-run double to right center. The Cavaliers tacked on four more runs in the second inning. Fourth-year Meghan O’Leary (Baton Rouge, La.), who was playing shortstop for the first time in her UVa career, singled to second base to start the inning. She stole second and third base and scored on Sorber’s single through the left side of the infield. Crockett followed with a run-scoring triple down the right field line. Haller then drilled a long single to center field to plate Crockett. Steffan pinch ran for Haller and promptly stole second base and moved to third on a fielder’s choice grounder. Steffan crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make the score 6-0.
O’Leary reached on an infield error to open the third inning and advanced all the way to third on Holstun’s single down the left field line. Holstun took second on the play and both runners scored on Sorber’s double to the gap in right center. Sorber moved to third on a groundout and then scored UVa’s ninth run on Haller’s groundout to shortstop. George Mason avoided the shutout with a run in the fourth inning. Dickel led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on Sarah Martin’s single to right field. Dickel advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Julia’s Pillow’s high chopper back to the pitcher that went for a base hit.
Holstun tossed the first four innings and allowed one run on six hits to earn the victory. She struck out a pair of batters while improving to 6-5 on the season. Second-year Karla Wilburn (Del Mar, Calif.) pitched a perfect fifth inning with one strikeout. Rachel Hastings (2-5) was saddled with the loss. She pitched 1.1 innings and allowed six runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Paige Krystofinski went the final 2.2 innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout.
Haller drove in four runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate in the second game. Sorber was 2-for-2 with three RBI, three runs scored, and was also hit by a pitch. Crockett registered a pair of hits in the contest, including a triple, scored two runs and drove in another. Sorber, Crockett and Haller – the first three hitters in UVa’s lineup – went a combined 6-for-8 with eight RBI and five runs scored.
Virginia returns to action on Friday (April 27) when it begins a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against Georgia Tech at The Park. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. The series wraps up with a single game on Saturday (April 28) at 1 p.m.