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Softball
Virginia Holds Off App State, 4-3
Feb. 23, 2018
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) went 3-for-4 with an RBI at the plate and Virginia (5-6) held off Appalachian State (3-8) for a 4-3 victory in the opening game of the UNCG Invitational.
After building a 4-0 lead heading into the final inning, the Cavaliers allowed App State to score three times and load the bases before escaping with the win. Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) earned the win, carrying a shutout into the seventh. Osherow (3-3) was charged with all three runs in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) roped a one-out single through the left side of the infield to spark the Hoos’ first run of the night. She would steal second, her first stolen base of the year, and advanced to third when the ball skipped away on the throw. Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) walked for the second time in the game to put runners at the corners for the Cavaliers.
Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) stepped to the plate and delivered her team-leading 13th RBI of the season with a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Allison Davis for the 1-0 lead.
Virginia would tack on another in the fourth as Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Osherow moved the pair into scoring position with a sac bunt before Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) made it 2-0 Hoos with a ground ball to short.
The Cavaliers would add a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 4-0. Smith opened the frame with a double to left center. Ingraham followed by singling home pinch runner Molly Keshin (New Canaan, Conn.) to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Busby would deliver an RBI on a fielder’s choice to build the advantage to four.
It turned out the Hoos needed the full breadth of the lead as App State scored three times in the bottom half and moved the tying run to third. A one-out walk signaled the beginning of trouble for the Hoos. A single and two more walks pushed a run across the plate and chased Osherow from the circle.
Tabby Dabney (Mechanicsville, Va.) entered in relief, but surrendered a two-run single and a walk to make it a 4-3 game and load the bases. The Cavaliers then turned to Smith who induced a sharp ground ball to short, ending the game on Busby’s diving throw to third. Smith earned the save, her first of the season and third of her career.
HOOS NOTES
- Allison Davis extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
- Gott has now reached safely in all 11 games this season.
- Ingraham’s three hits are a season-best for the senior who has now hit in three straight.
- Busby and Smith each finished with a pair of hits and an RBI.
UP NEXT
Virginia returns to action at the UNCG Invitational on Saturday with a 12 p.m. rematch against App State. The Hoos will also face UNCG at 5 p.m.