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Softball
Virginia Evens Series with Dramatic 2-1 Victory
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) launched her 12th home run of the season and Virginia (16-12, 5-3 ACC) held off Duke (13-18, 4-4 ACC) for a 2-1 victory to even the series on Saturday (March 23).
Smith’s two-run blast came in the bottom of the first after Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) led off the day with a single to left. The home run brings Smith one shy of tying the Virginia single-season record.
In the circle, freshman Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) was dominant in working a career-high 5 1/3 shutout innings. The right-hander scattered six hits, all singles, while striking out one Blue Devil. Rayle (6-2) did not surrender a walk in earning the victory.
KEY INNING
The top of the seventh featured plenty of dramatics as Duke used an infield single, hit-by-pitch and double to score one run and put runners at second and third with no outs. With Virginia clinging to a 2-1 advantage, Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) induced a ground ball to third for the first out of the inning.
The next Blue Devil chopped a grounder to short, where Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) made a backhand stab and fired home to cut down the would-be tying run for out number two. Frei did not waste any time in recording the third out, getting pinch-hitter Amelia Wiercioch to foul out to Busby at third on the first pitch to secure the win.
TOUCHING HOME
• Busby singled to lead off for the Cavaliers and Smith followed with her two-run shot to right center to put Virginia up 2-0 in the first.
• Duke’s lone run of the game came on Brianna Butler’s double to right in the seventh inning.
ON THE LINES
• Frei earned her second save of the season, working the final 1 2/3 innings of the game.
• Smith’s home run extends her reached-base streak to 18 games.
• Busby finished 2-for-4 at the plate and was the only Cavalier with multiple hits.
• Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) went 1-for-3 and added a diving grab on the warning track in center field to save a pair of runs in the sixth inning.
• The game marks the first time this season Virginia has won when being out-hit (8-7) by an opponent this season.
UP NEXT
Virginia and Duke conclude the series with a noon first pitch in the rubber game on Sunday (March 24) at The Park.