Virginia Downs Buffalo 11-3 to Open Cavalier Classic

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia softball (6-9) exploded to match its season-high with 11 runs on 14 hits to run-rule Buffalo (1-11), 11-3, in six innings to open play at The Cavalier Classic.
 
The game began Friday (March 1) but was suspended due to rain with the score tied 1-1 in the middle of the third. When play resumed on Saturday (March 2), Virginia promptly put six runs on the board to blow open the tied game.
 
Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) finished the game 3-for-4 with her first career home run and three RBI. Her walk-off single in the sixth capped a career performance for the sophomore. In the circle, Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) worked 4 1/3 innings to pick up her first win of the season. She struck out a career-best nine in the game.

KEY INNING 
When the game resumed in the bottom of the third on Saturday morning, Virginia sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs to build a 7-1 advantage. Covington launched her first career home run at Virginia, a towering two-run blast to left, to highlight the big inning.

TOUCHING HOME
• Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) doubled home a run in the top of the second to open the scoring, giving Virginia a 1-0 lead.
• In a rain-soaked top of the third, Buffalo leveled the game when Gabby Keller doubled down the left field line.
• After the game resumed on Saturday, Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) doubled home a pair to open a big third inning for Virginia.
• Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.) tacked on another pair with a single and Covington’s homer added two runs to make it 7-1 after three.
• An error and a bases-loaded walk plated a pair of runs for Buffalo in the top of the fifth, cutting the lead to 7-3.
• Virginia scored three in the fifth on doubles from Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) to push the advantage to 10-3.
• Covington ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the sixth, collecting her third RBI of the game.

ON THE LINES
• Covington’s three hits and three RBI are both career highs in a single game.
• Smith also finished the game 3-for-4 and added a pair of RBI.
• Friedman went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Davis also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia will return to action tonight (Saturday) with a pair of games at The Park. The Cavaliers will take on Norfolk State at 5 p.m. before playing Buffalo at 7:30 p.m.