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Cavaliers Edge Terrapins 5-4 in Game One
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. The Virginia softball team (14-31, 5-11 ACC) edged Maryland (30-15, 4-9 ACC) 5-4 in the first of two games Saturday at Robert E. Taylor Stadium on the UM campus.
Virginia outhit the host Terps 8-6 in the first game, led at the plate by Meghan O’Leary and Alison Pittman, who each tallied two singles. Carly Winger was ripped a RBI-triple and Lauren McCaskey also had a two-RBI single in the winning effort.
Junior hurler Karla Wilburn got the win in the circle in game one, improving her record to 9-14 on the year. Wilburn threw the complete game and allowed four runs on six hits.
The Cavaliers wasted no time getting on the road in the first inning. Leadoff batter Meghan O’Leary reached after getting hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sac bunt from Alison Pittman. O’Leary moved over to third when Kelly Haller flied out to right and would score on a RBI double to right center by clean-up hitter Carly Winger.
The Terps answered in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Alex Schultz doubled to left center. The next batter, Sarde Stewart, belted her team-leading sixth home run of the season to left center to make it 2-1 Maryland.
The UVa defense took over in the second inning. After a lead-off walk, shortstop Carly Winger started the 6-4-3 double play to clear the base paths. A flyout to O’Leary ended the inning.
The momentum carried into the top of the third inning. Right fielder Sarah Tacke led off with a double over the left fielder’s head. Meghan O’Leary beat out a bunt to the catcher to put runners on the corners with no outs. The next batter, Pittman, slapped a RBI single through the right side to score Tacke and move O’Leary to third.
After Pittman took second, Haller walked to load the bases. But Maryland pitcher Sarah Dooley came back to strike out Winger and Lindsey Preuss on six straight strikes. With two outs, first-year Lauren McCaskey ripped a single down the right field line to score O’Leary and Pittman and give Virginia a 4-2 advantage.
Maryland got a run back in the bottom half of the third on a two-out bases-loaded walk.
In the fifth, the Cavaliers scored again on a two-out RBI single to right by O’Leary, who blooped the ball over the second baseman’s head to score pinch-runner Casey Steffan from second.
Virginia carried its 5-3 lead into the bottom half of the seventh inning. With two outs, Terrapin shortstop Alex Schultz belted her second home run of the year just over the fence in left. Maryland brought the score to within one, 5-4, but UVa was able to get out of the inning and take the win in game one.