Virginia Tops Terps, 7-1

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A pair of home runs and a dominant performance in the circle from freshman Clare Zureich (Cary, N.C.) led Virginia (15-11) to a 7-1 victory over Maryland (16-12) on Tuesday (March 19) at Maryland Softball Stadium.
 
Zureich (3-0) worked a career-high five shutout innings in relief to earn the win for the Cavaliers. She did not allow a hit or walk in the outing while striking out four Terrapins.
 
Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Tori Gilbert (Mechanicsville, Va.) each homered for Virginia. Together they accounted for five of Virginia’s seven runs in the game.

KEY INNING
The Cavaliers broke a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run top of the fifth on the strength of four hits. Gilbert started the inning with a line-drive double off the center field wall. Busby followed with a two-run, opposite field blast to make it 3-1 Virginia.
 
With two outs, Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) singled off the pitcher’s glove and Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) followed with a double to left center to score pinch runner Bailey Winscott (Clinton, Miss.). The marker gave the Cavaliers a three-run edge.

TOUCHING HOME
• Maryland scored first in the opening frame on a lead-off inside the park home run from JoJo McRae.
• A pair of walks allowed Virginia to plate a run without a hit in the second inning on Abigail Barber’s sacrifice fly.
• Gilbert doubled to open the fifth inning and Busby followed with her fifth home run of the season to give the Hoos a 3-1 edge. Gott’s double would make it 4-1 after five in favor of Virginia.
• With a pair aboard in the sixth, Gilbert smashed a three-run homer off the scoreboard in right center to extend Virginia’s lead to 7-1.

ON THE LINES
• Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) extended her school-record hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the sixth.
• Busby finished 3-for-4 in the game with a pair of RBI.
• Gilbert went 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer, double and three RBI.
• Seven Cavaliers recorded base hits in the game.
• Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) made the start and allowed one run in two innings of work.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia returns home to The Park for a three-game ACC series against Duke this weekend. First pitch in the series opener is set for 5 p.m. on Friday (March 22).