Virginia Drops Twin Bill To No. 20 Notre Dame

Story Links

Box Score March 12, 2016

Box Score – Game 1 | Box Score – Game 2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cavaliers hit two home runs on the afternoon to account for four of five runs scored Saturday, but the Irish took advantage of opportunities as No. 20 Notre Dame (20-3, 2-0 ACC) grabbed both games of a doubleheader from Virginia (8-17, 0-2 ACC).

The Cavaliers dropped the first game 9-2 before falling in the second game 7-3. Virginia had an early lead in the first game, and cut the Irish lead to one run late in the second game. Each time, errors allowed the Irish to push back out to insurmountable advantages on the way to the wins.

Virginia will close out the series with the Irish at 12 p.m. on Sunday at The Park. Fans can follow the action through live stats and audio on VirginiaSports.com.

Game 1

No. 20 Notre Dame 9, Virginia 2

Aimee Chapdelaine (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit a two-run home run to give the Cavaliers the lead in the first inning, but the Irish would rally for the win as Virginia dropped game one.

Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) fell to 6-10 on the season, allowing nine runs – two of them earned – on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Allie Rhodes picked up the win for Notre Dame, allowing the two runs on one hit with four walks and five strikeouts.

A leadoff single cost the Cavaliers in the first as Notre Dame pushed a run across the plate to take the early lead.

Virginia struck back in the home half of the inning as Chapdelaine belted out a two-run home run that hit off the foul pole down the left field line. Allie Arneson (Aledo, Texas) reached on a leadoff walk to set up the two-run shot from Chapdelaine as Virginia took the 2-1 lead.

A fielding error at third on a ground ball back to the pitcher loaded the bases for Notre Dame in the second. The next batter grounded out to short, driving in the tying run before the Cavaliers would get out of the inning.

The Irish moved in front in the fourth inning on a line drive down the left field line from Maddie McCracken. The RBI double drove in pinch runner Carly Piccinich who ran for Micaela Arizmindi after a leadoff single. A pair of fielding errors kept the inning alive, allowing three more runs to score as Notre Dame took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth.

The Irish again capitalized on an error that extended the fifth inning, pushing two runs across the plate to take an 8-2 lead on the Cavaliers.

Notre Dame pushed one more run across in the sixth for what would be the final 9-2 margin of victory.

Game 2

No. 20 Notre Dame 7, Virginia 3

A home run in the sixth gave the Cavaliers life in game two, cutting the Irish lead to one run, but Notre Dame responded in the seventh to grab the second game of the doubleheader 7-3.

Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) took the loss to fall to 1-5 on the season, allowing three runs – two earned – on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. Osherow worked the final 2.1 innings, allowing four runs – one earned – on three hits.

The Irish took the early lead for the second time on the afternoon, getting a two-run home run from Melissa Rochford in the first inning. Ali Wester scored on the play after reaching on a single in the previous at bat. Notre Dame led 2-0 heading to the home half of the first.

The Cavaliers got on the board in the second inning when Labshere hit an RBI double to right field, scoring Kaitlin Fitzgerald from second. Fitzgerald walked and then stole second to set up the score.

Notre Dame took the lead back out to two runs in the fifth when Piccinich scored from third on a groundout from Karley Webster. Piccinich reached on a walk before stealing second and taking third on a passed ball.

A pair of errors in the sixth extended the sixth inning, allowing the Irish to push the lead out to 4-1 on the Cavaliers.

Virginia cut the lead to one run in the sixth when Ingraham hit a two-run shot. Katie Park (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored on the play after reaching on a single. The Cavaliers trailed 4-3 after the sixth.

Notre Dame got a run back in the seventh when an error and a dead ball allowed a runner to advance from second, giving the Irish the 5-3 lead. A double to center brought another run home, but the Cavaliers limited the damage as Chapdelaine made the throw home for the out of the trailing runner.

Another double pushed the lead out to 7-3 before the Cavaliers would get out of the inning.

Virginia loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs, but the pitching of the Irish buckled down at the end with a strikeout to keep the Cavaliers from rallying.

Game 1
No. 20 Notre Dame 9, Virginia 2 (Mar 12, 2016 at Charlottesville, Va.)
———————————————————————-
Notre Dame………. 110 421 0 – 9 9 0 (19-3, 1-0 ACC)
Virginia………… 200 000 0 – 2 1 5 (8-16, 0-1 ACC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Notre Dame – Allie Rhodes and Maddie McCracken. Virginia – and Katie Park.
Win-Allie Rhodes(9-2) Loss-Erika Osherow(6-10) T-1:44 A-0
HR VA – Aimee Chapdelaine (2).
Weather: 66, Cloudy

Game 2
No. 20 Notre Dame 7, Virginia 3 (Mar 12, 2016 at Charlottesville, Va.)
———————————————————————-
Notre Dame………. 200 011 3 – 7 7 0 (20-3, 2-0 ACC)
Virginia………… 010 002 0 – 3 6 3 (8-17, 0-2 ACC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Notre Dame – Rachel Nasland; Katie Beriont(7) and Casey Africano; Maddie McCracken. Virginia – ; Erika Osherow(5) and Katie Park.
Win-Rachel Nasland(6-0) Loss-Lacy Smith(1-5) T-2:00 A-223
HR ND – Melissa Rochford (3).
HR VA – Danni Ingraham (3).
Weather: 66, Cloudy