Softball Shuts Out ETSU; Clipped by UNCW at Buccaneer Invite

Feb. 18, 2017

ETSU Box Score | PDF | UNCW Box Score | PDF

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Virginia (4-5) earned its second split in as many days at the Charleston Southern Buccaneer Invitational. The Cavaliers shut out ETSU, 9-0 in five innings before falling to UNCW, 2-1.

For the second-straight day, the early game yielded an offensive outburst for the Cavaliers. A run came across in all but one frame and was capped by a three-run, game-winning rally in the bottom of the fifth.

In the circle, Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) recorded her first career shutout, allowing just two hits in a complete game victory. She also did her part on the offensive end with a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth to seal Virginia’s run-rule victory. The long ball was also the first of her career.

Playing in its first game of the season, UNCW received an outstanding pitching performance from senior Peyton Jordan in Virginia’s second game of the day. Jordan allowed just two hits and an unearned run for her first victory of the season.

The Cavaliers will complete their six-game weekend with a doubleheader on Sunday at Elon. The first game is scheduled for noon at Hunt Softball Park in Elon, N.C.

Game 1 — ETSU

The Cavalier offense picked up where they left off in Friday’s 11-3 win over ETSU by plating three runs in the first inning. Virginia took advantage of a sloppy defensive frame by the Buccaneers that included two wild pitches and a passed ball. Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) drove in the third run of the game with an RBI groundout.

Sophomore Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) homered in the third inning, the second-straight day she left the yard, to make the score 4-0. Gott went 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and an RBI.

More erratic play from the defensive side of the ball by ETSU led to two runs in the fourth. Katie Park (Scottsdale, Ariz.) drove in her second run of the season with a sacrifice fly to left field. A defensive miscue on the relay throw allowed Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) to score all the way from second on the routine fly out.

In the Cavaliers’ final turn at the plate, freshman Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) began the game-winning rally with her first collegiate hit, an RBI double to left field. She later scored on Smith’s walk-off home run.

The shutout was the first for Virginia since a 6-0 triumph over Georgia Tech on April 23, 2016.

Game 2 — UNCW

Jordan stifled the Cavalier lineup over the first three innings, retiring nine of the first 10 batters. Virginia recorded its first hit in the top of the fourth, a double, off the bat of McKall Miller (Ashburn, Va.).

After a two-out fielding error and an Illegal pitch by Jordan in the top of the sixth, the Cavaliers got on the scoreboard with an RBI single by Gott. The inning ended on a controversial runner’s interference call between first and second base.

Starting pitcher Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) worked around trouble all game and stranded 11 UNCW baserunners. She pitched all six innings and surrendered just one earned run.