Virginia Sweeps Falcons, 9-2 And 5-3

Sunday, March 16

Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier Classic)

11:00 AM

Bowling Green State University

VIRGINIA

March 16, 2003 | Softball

March 16, 2003

Final Stats

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The host University of Virginia pounded out a total of 10 extra-base hits in earning a doubleheader sweep of the Bowling Green State University softball team Sunday (March 16). The Cavaliers downed the Falcons by scores of 9-2 and 5-3 as the teams concluded action in the three-day Cavalier Classic.

With the wins, UVa improves to 15-13 on the season, while the Falcons drop to 8-9-1 on the season.

In the opener, Virginia's Ruby Rojas went 3-for-4 with three doubles, while Sara Larquier had two doubles in four at-bats. The Cavaliers scored two runs in both the first and second innings, with a total of just one hit in each inning off senior McKenna Houle (0-4).

UVa added to the lead with three runs off reliever Jody Johnson in the third inning, before the Falcons got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. BGSU, after totalling only two hits in the first four frames, got a leadoff single by freshman Abby Habicht in the fifth. One out later, freshman Lindsay Heimrich singled, and both frosh scored on a double to left-center by senior Kandice Machain. The two RBI were the first of the year for Machain.

Back-to-back walks by senior Libby Voshell and freshman Gina Rango loaded the bases and brought on UVa reliever Christina Grimm in place of starter Kris Horn. Grimm got a strikeout and an infield grounder to avert further damage.

The Cavaliers got single runs in each of the next two innings, and Grimm held the Falcons off the board to earn the save. Horn (7-6) allowed two runs and five hits in four-and-a-third innings of work. She walked five batters, but struck out seven. Grimm allowed one hit in two-and-two-thirds shutout innings, walking one and whiffing two.

Houle gave up four runs (only one earned) and just two hits in two innings, issuing two walks. Johnson surrendered five runs and six hits, walking five hitters and getting one strikeout.

At the plate, the Cavaliers had an 8-6 advantage, but six of Virginia's hits were doubles. The Falcons got two-hit games from Heimrich and Machain, with the latter player getting a pair of RBI.

In the second game, the Cavaliers again got on the board quickly, scoring twice in the bottom of both the first and second innings off Falcon freshman Liz Vrabel (5-3). Larquier hit a two-run homer in the first, and Heather Field had an RBI triple in the second.

The Falcons rallied however, getting to within a run. BG scored a run off Joanna Barstad (7-6) in the third, as Heimrich drew a one-out walk and took second on a single by junior Candace Fenton. Then, senior Libby Voshell singled to plate Heimrich with the Falcons' first run of the game.

Vrabel held the hosts off the scoreboard in each of the next three innings, and BG narrowed the gap in the sixth. Rango led off with an infield hit, and junior Jenifer Kernahan followed with a single. Kernahan was forced on Machain's fielder's choice, with Rango taking third. After Machain stole second, senior Crystal Wilson singled to score Rango and send Machain to third. Pinch-hitter Valerie Tipton hit a liner for the second out, but Machain then scored on an error by UVa catcher Brit Gore on a failed pickoff attampt. Then, junior Liz Tuza walked and Heimrich singled to load the bases. But, Grimm came in for the Cavaliers and got an inning-ending popup.

The hosts got an insurance run on a Field double in the bottom of the sixth, and Grimm allowed two baserunners but no BG runs in the seventh to pick up her second save of the day.

Barstad allowed seven hits and three runs in five-and-two-thirds innings of action. She walked five and fanned one. Grimm surrendered one hit in getting the final four outs.

Vrabel took the complete-game loss, allowing five runs and nine hits. She issued two walks and had three strikeouts.

Field and Taylor each had a pair of hits for the hosts, while Kernahan had the lone two-hit game for the Brown and Orange. Virginia had a slim 9-8 hits advantage in the second game.

In other Sunday action, Seton Hall swept Stony Brook to win the Cavalier Classic with a 6-0 record. Virginia (4-2) came in second, followed by BGSU (2-4) and Stony Brook (0-6).

The Falcons' next scheduled action is the Mid-American Conference opener, a Saturday (March 22) doubleheader at Western Michigan, beginning at 1:00 p.m.