The Virginia softball team will face a familiar foe this afternoon at The Park, as they return home for a doubleheader against the Pirates of East Carolina. The two teams competed just four days ago, when the Cavaliers vanquished an inexperienced East Carolina team, 5-1, in round-robin play of the Tarheel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Virginia also fields a fresh-faced squad but rode to a rain-shortened tournament championship on the backs of their youth last weekend. Heavy thunderstorms forced the cancellation of Sunday's scheduled games, giving the Cavaliers the Invitational crown after two Saturday wins.
Freshman Erin Horn earned both victories in the circle, pitching a full seven innings to top ECU.
"It gives us a little knowledge about their strengths and weaknesses," coach Cheryl Sprangel said of the advantages of hosting East Carolina immediately after defeating them in Chapel Hill. "It gives us a little confidence, but we want to make sure we don't overlook them. Every game is a new game."
Horn held the Pirates to two hits in last Saturday's ballgame, and was tossing a shutout until a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the seventh brought home East Carolina's only run.
The freshman hurler also was instrumental in Virginia's first win of the day -- a Saturday morning squeaker over Hawaii. A late run by the Rainbow Wahine forced extra innings, but the Cavaliers came out on top, 8-7, after Horn was called in to relieve fellow freshman Christina Grimm.
Virginia's offense also was powered by a freshman Saturday. Rookie second baseman Sara Larquier was named tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .600 in the two games. Larquier, who leads her team in home runs, had a two-run blast to put the Cavaliers up 2-0 in the first inning of the game with Hawaii.
Despite the noise generated by the freshmen, Virginia's upperclassmen still will be expected to make major contributions in this afternoon's rematch with the Pirates.
"We have a lot of leadership on the team throughout all ages," senior outfielder Katie Weinberg said. "First years, fourth years -- all are capable."
Two Cavalier juniors, shortstop Heather Field and first baseman Hannah Owings, were named to the All-Tournament Team last weekend along with ECU's junior outfielder Lacassa Hill and freshman catcher Krista Jessup. The strong play of Hill and Jessup was a bright spot for the Pirates, who lost two consecutive games in Saturday's abbreviated tournament, falling to 17-17 on the season. In only their second season as a member of Conference USA, East Carolina has struggled to adjust to major conference pitching, compiling a 1-8 record in C-USA.
Virginia, which averages a six-run margin of victory in its 23 wins this season, will look to exploit the Pirates weakness at the plate.
"Our strength is our hitting, for sure," senior outfielder Johanna Kaiser said.
The Cavaliers will take the field at 2 p.m. today, with the second game of the doubleheader scheduled to begin at 3:30.
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