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Softball
Key Hit Eludes Cavaliers in 5-1 Defeat
April 29, 2018
DURHAM, N.C. – Virginia (12-39, 3-21 ACC) outhit Duke (29-23, 13-11 ACC) in the series finale, but the Blue Devils claimed a 5-1 victory to complete the sweep to end ACC play.
Virginia got one-out doubles in each of the first two innings. Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) painted the right field line in the first inning, while Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) ripped a one-hopper to the wall in left in the second. Both were stranded as the Cavaliers missed early scoring opportunities.
Duke opened the scoring in the second, making the Cavaliers pay for a leadoff walk. A wild pitch and sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third with one out before Jameson Kavel singled up the middle.
Two walks in the third turned into two more Duke runs as Raine Wilson tripled with two outs to make it 3-0 Blue Devils. A single followed to drive home Wilson and make it a 4-0 advantage.
The Cavaliers responded in the fourth with a single run. Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) singled to open the frame and Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) followed to put Hoos on first and third. Osherow ripped her second hit of the afternoon into right field, plating Virginia’s first run of the day.
Duke regained the four-run edge immediately, using an infield single and sac bunt to set the table. Dominique Salinas drove a ground ball through a pulled-in infield to make it 5-1 Duke after four.
As it had all weekend, the crucial hit continued to elude Virginia on Sunday. The Cavaliers stranded a pair in both the fifth and sixth innings in the loss and left 10 runners on base throughout the game.
Smith (5-11) took the loss in the circle for the Cavaliers. The junior worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on three hits.
Amelia Wiercioch (11-10) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief for Duke.
UP NEXT
Virginia closes its 2018 season with a Tuesday doubleheader at Liberty. First pitch in game one is set for 4 p.m. and both games will be broadcast on the Big South Network and WatchESPN.