After a disappointing 3-2 loss in the opening game of their doubleheader against James Madison (23-17), the Virginia softball team (44-18) bounced back and trounced the Dukes 9-1 in the teams' second match. Statistically, Virginia dominated both games, but a lack of focus allowed the Dukes to hand the Cavaliers a rare home loss.
In the first game the Cavaliers proved to be their own worst enemy, as they struggled to produce runs. Despite getting seven hits off opposing pitcher Leah Conley, Virginia could only muster two scores.
The lack of run support was particularly disappointing to pitcher Kristen Dennis (23-9), whose line, seven innings pitched, two hits allowed and 13 strikeouts, doesn't look like that of a losing pitcher. The senior All-American carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, when she allowed a leadoff walk to Alison Pardalis. This would prove costly as Pardalis would eventually come around to score along with teammate Liz George, as JMU centerfielder Leah Evert smashed a double to centerfield. On the next play, Evert crossed the plate herself to put the Dukes ahead. Dennis was able to get out of the inning by striking out Ashlee Schenk, but the damage had been done. The loss is only Virginia's fourth at home this season.
"We beat ourselves," Dennis said. "We expected to crush them and when we got up by a couple of runs we thought it was enough."
"It is a matter of us getting ourselves up and respecting each team equally," coach Cheryl Sprangel said.
In the second game of the double header the Cavaliers had no problem getting up for the visiting Dukes. They had an offensive field day, scoring nine runs on 10 hits, in only five innings.
From the outset the change in Virginia's attitude was evident. The Cavaliers were doing the little things that it took to win. After Sevilla singled to lead off the Virginia half of the first inning she advanced to second on a Kelly McCabe bunt, and Virginia never looked back.
Sevilla would come around to score on a Kristen Dennis single and McCabe crossed the plate after Heather Field ripped a single up the middle. That would be all the scoring in the first, but after James Madison managed to score a run in the top of the third, the Cavaliers would add seven runs in the bottom of that inning in order to run their lead to eight runs.
The lucky recipient of this offensive ground swell was Sevilla, who after scoring Virginia's first run, managed to hold the Dukes to just four hits and only one run in her five innings of work as pitcher.
Even as the Cavaliers went on to close out the Dukes, 9-1, their excitement was tempered by the loss of the first game.
Virginia will face off with Florida State in an afternoon double header at The Park next Tuesday, starting at 1 p.m.
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