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Virginia Falls to Fordham, No. 21 Louisville
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GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Virginia softball team (4-2) dropped two decisions Friday at East Carolina’s Pirate Clash, falling to Fordham and No. 21/23 Louisville by scores of 2-1. Sophomore Marcy Bowdren homered in both games for the Cavaliers.
In its first game of the season, Fordham outhit Virginia 8-3 and scored a run in the top of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. All-American pitcher Jen Mineau threw all seven innings and finished with 10 strikeouts in the winning effort.
Bowdren (Fairfax Station, Va.) also singled in addition to her home run. Freshman Heidi Velk (Murrieta, Calif.) tallied a single as well.
Junior Melanie Mitchell (White Plains, Md.) suffered her first loss of the season but also pitched a complete game for the Cavaliers. She struck out six batters and allowed just one walk.
Fordham got on the board first when Nicole Callahan singled to right with one out in the top of the third. Erica Wills, who came on to pinch run for Callahan, moved to second on a passed ball and took third on a Elise Fortier single through the left side. She would score on a Paige Ortize single.
Virginia was able to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth when Bowdren homered to left center.
But Fordham (1-0) responded with a run in the top of the fifth for what proved to be the game winner. Jamie LaBovick led off with a single to right field and eventually came home on a Gabby Luety single to left.
Facing its first ranked opponent of the season in No. 21/23 Louisville (6-0), the Cavaliers held a 1-0 lead for the first six innings before succumbing to Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Freshman Rachel Gillen (Wilmington, Del.) took the loss in the circle. She gave up both runs in the seventh and seven hits for the game.
The Cavaliers finished with four hits. In addition to Bowdren’s second homer of the day, Kristen Hawkins (Elizabeth, Pa.) doubled and both Giannina Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Erica Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.) singled.
Bowdren’s homer in the top of the fifth led off the inning and was the first run of the ballgame. U of L’s Kayla Soles did the same thing to lead off the bottom of the seventh and tie it up. Then with two outs, Kristin Austin singled to left and moved to second on a Jennifer Esteban walk. Katie Keller’s double to right field allowed Austin to score and give Louisville a 2-1 win.
The Cavaliers continue play in the Pirate Clash with a 1 p.m. game Saturday against Hofstra.