Eagles Down UVa Softball 6-2 and 6-4
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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. The Virginia softball team (14-37, 5-15 ACC) was downed by Boston College (29-26, 5-12 ACC) in a doubleheader Saturday at Commander Shea Field. BC took the first game 6-2 before defeating the Cavaliers 6-4 in game two. Third-year Sarah Tacke belted her sixth home run of the year in the second game.
After the Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game one, the Cavaliers tied the score in the top half of the fifth. With one out, Tacke and Kierstie Cameron recorded back-to-back singles. After Casey Steffan came on to pinch run for Cameron, Abby Snyder recorded the third hit of the inning, a RBI single that scored Tacke. The next batter, Meghan O’Leary, then singled up the middle to bring home Steffan.
The tie did not stand for long, as Boston College rebounded with a four-run inning. With two outs and a runner on third, Amy Tunstall singled to drive in the run. After Taylor Peyto doubled, Tunstall would come across to score all the way from first after UVa left field Lindsey Preuss bobbled the ball. Virginia’s Whitney Holstun then came on in relief for starter Karla Wilburn, but the first pitch was sent over the fence, a two-run shot by Renee Ramos.
Both squads recorded six hits in the first game. Virginia committed two errors in the contest to BC’s one. O’Leary led the way in the batter’s box with a 2-for-3 performance.
Wilburn took the loss after throwing 2/3 innings and allowing five runs on five hits while striking out three. Holstun and Rife both came on in relief. BC’s Allison Gage earned the win with a complete-game outing. Gage also struck out three.
The Cavaliers quickly got on the board to take a 2-0 lead in game two. The leadoff batter, O’Leary, reached on a walk and later moved to second on a throwing error by BC catcher Tunstall. After two outs were made, Tacke belted her sixth home run of the season over the left field fence.
Boston College got one back in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back infield singles put on Carley McNarey and Tunstall. After a fielder’s choice advanced McNarey to third, Renee Ramos singled up the middle to score her teammate and cut the lead to one.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles went ahead on a suicide squeeze bunt single by Tunstall, which scored Amanda Booth, who led off the inning with a single of her own. Carolyn Jones came across to score when pinch runner Allie Thunst stole second and the ball was mishandled by UVa shortstop Carly Winger. With BC taking a 3-2 advantage, first baseman Dani Weir then belted her sixth bomb of the season, a three-run shot to center, to make it 6-2.
Both teams again tallied the same amount of hits with eight apiece in game two. Tacke was 3-for-3 at the plate, including a single, double and home run. O’Leary, Alison Pittman, Winger, Kelly Haller and Kierstie Cameon also recorded singles for UVa.
Holstun threw four innings and took the loss in the circle for Virginia, allowing three runs on five hits. Rife came on to throw the final two innings and gave up three runs on three hits. Gage threw all seven innings in game two as well to earn the win for Boston College.
The Cavaliers and Eagles will conclude the series at 1 p.m. Sunday. The contest will mark the final regular season game for Virginia.
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