Cavaliers Drop Two at Madeira Beach

Feb. 16, 2018

Box Score Game One | Box Score Game Two

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Virginia softball fell 4-0 to Ohio and 4-3 to Lipscomb as the Cavaliers (2-5) came up empty on day one of the Madeira Beach Invitational.

Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) and Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) each had 2-for-6 days at the plate to lead the Hoos while Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) drove home two of the Cavaliers’ three runs.

GAME ONE | OHIO 4 – VIRGINIA 0

Allison Davis led off the day with a double for the Cavaliers, but was left stranded at third. The missed opportunity turned out to be the start of a trend in the opening game as the Hoos left seven on base and went 0-for-10 with runners aboard.

Ohio (1-0) jumped into the lead in the top of the third inning as an infield single was followed by a two-run home run from Bobcat-leadoff Alex Day. The Bobcats would get two more hits in the inning, but Smith, who started in the circle for Virginia, would escape the inning without further damage.

Virginia threated to answer immediately, as Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) singled and moved to third as a pair of Wahoos walked to load the bases with one out. Bobcat starter Danielle Stiene had the answer, however, getting a strikeout and a line out to end the inning.

The inning proved to be the last true threat for the Hoos as Stiene limited Virginia to just four hits in the game. She struck out nine Cavaliers and walked just three to earn her first win of the season.

Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) and Janelle Zellars (Forest, Va.) each added singles in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, for the Hoos.

Ohio tacked on an insurance run in the sixth as Day tripled home another run for her third RBI of the afternoon. The Bobcats made it 4-0 in the seventh with an unearned run.

Smith (1-2) took the loss for the Cavaliers, working six innings and allowing all four of the runs. Three of the runs were earned as she allowed 11 hits while striking out three.

GAME TWO | LIPSCOMB 4 – VIRGINIA 3

In the second game of the day, the Cavaliers rallied back from a 3-1 deficit only to see Lipscomb walk off in the seventh.

Lipscomb (3-0) started fast, using three hits to score a pair of runs off Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) in the first inning. Osherow escaped a big inning by inducing an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded.

The Cavaliers pulled a run back in the top of the second as Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) tripled down the right field line to open the inning. Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) lifted a sacrifice fly a batter later to cut the deficit to one.

The Bison tacked on another run in the third on a double and dropped sacrifice fly. The error did not cost the Hoos any further damage as Osherow worked out of the inning with just the single run and a 3-1 score line.

As Osherow settled in through the middle innings, the Cavaliers went to work at the plate. Ingraham singled to start the fourth and Smith followed with a single of her own. With two aboard, Busby squibbed a ball off the end of the bat and beat it out for an infield single to load the bases with no outs.

Ashlee Davis drove home a run as Mandy Jordan’s pitch skipped off her foot. It was Davis’ second RBI of the game. The Hoos, however, failed to push another run across as Jordan wiggled off the hook with a foul out and back-to-back strikeouts.

The Hoos tied the game in the fifth as Ingraham reached on an error and scored on Smith’s double down the leftt field line. In the final two innings, only Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) produced a hit for Virginia as Jordan held the game deadlocked at three.

A leadoff double spelled troubled in the bottom of the seventh. An error on a muffed throw gave the Bison another runner before UVA elected to intentionally load the bases. Caitlin Plocheck sent Lipscomb to the 4-3 win as she drew a four-pitch walk to force home the game-winning run.

Osherow (1-2) took the loss in the circle. The junior went the distance for the Hoos, allowing four runs on seven hits. Three of the runs were earned and Osherow struck out three while walking five.

Jordan (2-0) went the distance for Lipscomb while allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits.

UP NEXT

Virginia plays another doubleheader tomorrow at the Madeira Beach Invitational as the Cavaliers face George Mason and UNCG.