Virginia Drops Doubleheader to Close Series

April 14, 2018

Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Both ends of the doubleheader featured tight games heading into the late innings, but Virginia Tech (19-24, 5-12 ACC) earned the sweep over Virginia (12-31, 3-15) on Saturday (April 14) at The Park.

The first game of the twin bill sat at 5-4 heading into the final inning before a grand slam sent the Hokies on to victory while game two came down to the wire in a one-run ballgame.

GAME ONE | Virginia Tech 9 – Virginia 4

Virginia jumped out to a first-inning lead as seniors Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) and Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) produced the damage. Davis singled to open the game before Ingraham launched her 32nd career home run to give the Cavaliers a 2-0 advantage.

The lead would hold until the fourth when a leadoff triple sparked the Hokies to life. A dropped foul ball allowed another runner aboard before a three-run shot gave Virginia Tech the lead. A bases-loaded walk would score another before Virginia escaped the inning with a 1-2-3 double play.

Virginia countered with a pair of runs in the fifth to tie the game. Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) singled to open the frame and Davis drove her home with a double to right. A wild pitch allowed Davis to scamper home, knotting the game at 4-4.

The Hokies came right back, retaking the lead with a pair of two-out hits in the sixth. The double and single made it a 5-4 game in favor of the Hokies. A grand slam in the top of the seventh sealed the series as Virginia Tech opened a 9-4 lead.

Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) was saddled with the loss for Virginia. She allowed six runs, five earned, in 4 2/3 innings.

Jordan Dail (6-9) earned the win. She tossed a complete game and allowed four earned runs on six hits.

GAME TWO | Virginia Tech 3 – Virginia 2

Virginia Tech used a pair of second-inning doubles to open the scoring and take a 2-0 lead. Virginia responded right away in the bottom half, getting two of its own to tie the game.

Osherow legged out an infield single and Covington followed with an RBI-triple off the wall in right field to cut the deficit to 2-1. Ashley Jennings (Forest, Va.) leveled the game by beating out a ground ball back up the middle, allowing Covington to score with two outs.

Both sides settled in as the tie would hold through the middle innings before the Hokies regained a one-run advantage in the sixth. A walk and sacrifice bunt put the go-ahead run in scoring position with one away for Virginia Tech. A single should have put runners at the corners for the Hokies, but the throw in from the outfield bounded away and allowed the eventual winning run to score in unearned fashion.

The miscue spoiled a stellar outing for Tabby Dabney (Mechanicsville, Va.) who tossed five innings, allowing all three runs, only two of which were earned. Dabney scattered four hits on the afternoon, but was charged with the tough-luck loss.

Carrie Eberle finished off her second complete game of the weekend to earn the victory for the Hokies.

UP NEXT

Virginia hits the road for four games this week. The Hoos head to Georgetown on Wednesday (April 18) before continuing on to Pittsburgh for a three-game set over the weekend.

More on the Commonwealth Clash
The series also signifies the softball matchup between Virginia and Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Clash. The Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529 is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash encourages a friendly, statewide rivalry between the two schools across all school-sponsored sports with 21 individual event points on the line. The school that accumulates 11 points or more will be crowned the winner and take home the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash trophy. Visit www.TheCommonwealthClash.com for more information and updated standings.