Virginia Sweeps Softball Doubleheader from East Carolina
April 02, 2003 | Softball
With the doubleheader sweep, UVa improves to 25-16 on the season, while East Carolina falls to 17-19.
The Cavaliers used four hits, including a pair of pinch hits, to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over East Carolina in the nightcap. Third baseman Ruby Rojas capped off the comeback by roping a two-run double down the left field line that scored center fielder Katie Weinberg and right fielder Jessica Taylor with the tying and winning runs. Jenn Wynn got the comeback started with a pinch hit single to right field. Lauren Dennis pinch ran for Wynn and advanced to third when Christina Grimm registered a pinch hit double to right center. After an infield pop up, Taylor plated Dennis with a single to right. Weinberg, who re-entered the game for Grimm moved to second on the hit. Weinberg and Taylor then scored on Rojas' 14th double of the year.
Virginia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Taylor singled up the middle and Rojas walked. Taylor scored from third on second baseman Sara Larquier's single. Rojas and Larquier then scored on Tracy Sherman's single to right center.
The Pirates tied the game at 3-3 with one run in the second and two runs in the third. Krista Jessup drove in two of ECU's three runs with a pair of doubles. East Carolina took a 5-3 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. Christine Sheridan scored on a throwing error and Lacassa Hill crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Kristen Johnson. Virginia came back to win the game with its three-run seventh inning.
Erin Horn earned the victory with one inning of relief work to improve to 12-7 on the season. She struck out two ECU batters with the bases loaded in the seventh. Third-year Joanna Barstad pitched the first six innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Brittany Boyd (6-4) took the loss in relief of Maggie Lingo. Boyd gave up one run on two hits in one-third on an inning of work.
The Cavaliers registered a 6-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. Grimm limited East Carolina to one run on three hits in improving to 8-4 in the circle with the complete-game effort. She struck out four batters while walking two. Brently Bridgeforth (7-7) took the loss as she allowed six runs on four hits in three innings of work.
Virginia jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Wynn walked with the bases loaded to force in the first run and with two outs, left fielder Johanna Kaiser laced a two-run single to right center. First baseman Hannah Owings scored the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch. UVa extended its lead to 6-0 on Larquier's two-run homer to center field in the third. It was Larquier's team-leading 10th home run of the season. The Pirates broke up Grimm's shutout bid when Kate Manuse hit a solo home run in the sixth.
