The Virginia softball team will host the 2004 Hoo's Who Tournament this weekend at The Park.The Cavaliers (19-16) are slated to do battle Friday against Seton Hall (14-4) at 1 p.m. and against N.C State (16-16) at 3 p.m.Then, on Saturday, Virginia will compete against Penn State at 1 p.m., and Binghamton (7-4-1) at 3 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Cavaliers played a doubleheader at home against Virginia Tech. In the first game, senior Joanna Barstad and sophomore Erin Horn combined to hold the Hokies to a four-hit shutout, winning 2-0.In the second game, however, the Cavaliers' bats could not catch up after falling behind 5-0 early, eventually dropping the contest 5-2.
Despite the great performance in the first game, the Cavaliers were quite upset about losing the nightcap.
"It's always disappointing when you lose," senior shortstop Heather Field said. "I was always taught that if you are not sad when you lose, then you are just used to losing."
Going into this weekend's tournament, the Cavaliers are confident about their chances for success. Virginia coach Cheryl Sprangel stressed that offense will be key to victory this weekend.
"We need more hitting," Sprangel said. "And we have got to try to get started hitting earlier in the game."
Going into this weekend's tournament, the Cavaliers' offense is led by two senior four-year starters, Heather Field and Hannah Owings.Field, a shortstop, was recently selected in the National Pro Fastpitch draft by the Sacramento Sunbirds. She returned to the diamond this year, and her power has generated a .547 slugging percentage to go with her .308 batting average.Owings, a first baseman, has also put up some major numbers for the Cavaliers. Tied for the team lead with five home runs and 18 RBIs, Owings also boasts a .308 batting average.
On the mound, the Cavaliers are led by pitchers Barstad, Horn and freshman Coty Tolar. The trio has had great success so far this year, compiling a 3.21 ERA.The presence of three solid starters could become a major factor in this weekend's tournament play, with a lot of innings set to be thrown.
According to Horn, "Stamina can become a major factor in tournament play."
Seton Hall, sporting a 14-4 record, looks to be the biggest competition the Cavaliers will face this weekend.The Pirates are led by junior pitcher Megan Meyer, who sports a 10-0 record to go with her miniscule 0.34 ERA. Meyer's dynamic start to the season has landed her Big East Pitcher of the Week honors three times already this season.
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