Cavaliers Defeat Nicholls State, 4-3, in Eight Innings
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Feb. 17, 2013
BATON ROUGE, La.—The Virginia softball team defeated Nicholls State, 4-3, in eight innings Sunday afternoon (Feb. 17) in the final day of the Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. With the win, the Cavaliers moved to 4-4 on the season, while the Colonels fell to 4-4.
In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Megan Harris (Knoxville, Tenn.) reached on a Colonel throwing error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Erica Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.). Up stepped freshman Shannon McGinley (Prairie Village, Kan.), who hit a double to the gap in left-center field that scored Harris for the UVa win.
Senior Melanie Mitchell (White Plains, Md.) threw a complete game (eight innings) with nine strikeouts and three unearned runs to earn the win (3-1). It was Mitchell’s 94th career complete game, second-most in UVa history, breaking a tie with Michelle Collins. Mitchell was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the top of the first, the Colonels struck for three unearned runs after two UVa errors. Ashton Bennent hit a two-run home run to left in the inning.
The Cavaliers knotted the score at three in the bottom of the second, with McGinley scoring freshman Taylor Sarcone (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Harris on a double to right. McGinley was awarded third on an obstruction call and came home on a RBI single by senior Lauren Didlake (Bowling Green, Va.). It was Didlake’s first career hit and RBI.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Colonels earned two singles, but a diving catch by Williams and a pop out ended the threat.
After sophomore Heidi Velk (Murrieta, Calif.) hit a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, she stole second and went to third on a Colonel error. After Williams stole second, senior Kristen Hawkins (Elizabeth, Pa.) walked to load the bases, but a sophomore Karli Johnson (Lovettsville, Va.) fly out ended the inning.
Katie Moulder (0-2) allowed four runs (two earned) with two strikeouts in 7.1 innings for the loss.
The Cavaliers return to action when they travel to the West Coast for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 21-23.