Virginia Earns Two Walk-Off Wins Over Longwood
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Box Score April 15, 2015
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.–The Virginia softball team concluded its home schedule with two walk-off wins over Longwood, 7-6 and 6-4, Wednesday night (April 15) at The Park.
The Cavaliers (15-33) won the first game in the bottom of the seventh when senior Megan Harris (Knoxville, Tenn.) came around from second on a throwing error by Longwood. In the second game, the Cavaliers’ only other senior, Heidi Velk (Murrieta, Calif.), hit her first two home runs of the season, including a three-run shot to win the game in the seventh.
“Our hitters did a good job of being staying disciplined and had better at-bats as each game went on and our pitchers did an outstanding job of keeping us in the games,” UVa head coach Blake Miller said.
In the first game down 5-0, the Cavaliers stormed back behind a three-run home run by sophomore Kaitlin Fitzgerald (Placentia, Calif.) in the third and a two-run long ball by freshman Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) in the fourth. Junior Aimee Chapdelaine (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) came on in the sixth and pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win (4-2).
In the second game, the Lancers (20-23) once again jumped out to an early lead, taking a 3-0 advantage in the third. The Cavaliers’ hit back-to-back-to-back home runs from sophomore McKall Miller (Ashburn, Va.), Velk and Davis to tie the game.
Longwood took the lead in the fifth, but the Cavaliers came back in the seventh as freshman Brittany McNulla (Litchfield, N.H.) walked and Miller singled to lead off the inning. Up stepped Velk, who launched a 3-2 pitch over the right-field fence for her first multi-home run game of her career and earn the win for UVa.
Chapdelaine tossed a complete game, striking out six with four runs (three earned) allowed. Elizabeth McCarthy (16-12) tossed two complete games for Longwood, but took the loss in each game.
With six home runs Wednesday, the Cavaliers now have 51 for the season, 11 more than their previous team single-season record. UVa has 207 RBI for the season, the fifth-most in team single-season history.
Davis has now moved into the top 10 on UVa single-season lists with 26 extra-base hits (sixth) and 41 runs (tied for ninth).
Next up, the Cavaliers travel to Tallahassee, Fla., this weekend (April 18-19) to take on Florida State. Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m., while Sunday’s single game is slated for 11 a.m.