Just a week after earning a win in extra innings in the championship of the Cavalier Classic, Virginia's fate took a slightly different turn in the final round of yesterday's Hoo's Who Tournament, as the team fell to N.C. State by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings.
With one out, freshman Elea Crockett on first base and sophomore Jackie Greer on second, Virginia's hopes of a second consecutive tournament win were high. Sophomore Jessica Taylor stepped to the plate, needing only to move the runners forward. After the initial pitch was thrown, Taylor drove a sharply-hit ground ball directly at the second baseman, who tagged the advancing Crockett and doubled up Greer at first. Coach Cheryl Sprangel's objections to the controversial tag had no effect.
In the top of the tenth, the Wolfpack scored its only run of extra innings on freshman Jennifer Chamberlain's single to right. After two scoreless extra innings at the plate, the Cavaliers came to bat in the bottom of the inning, needing a run to keep their comeback hopes alive. That run never came as N.C. State pitcher Abbie Sims sat down the first three Virginia batters she faced.
"We've always been able to come back," junior catcher Jenn Wynn said. "We all knew we could do it -- there was no nervousness or anything. It just didn't come together this time."
Extra-inning games have become more and more common with this year's Cavalier squad. In their fourth such contest, yesterday was the team's first loss.
"We are focused throughout, but you have more of a task and a role in extra innings," senior captain Heather Field said. "You have to manufacture runs rather than just get hits."
Entering this past weekend's tournament, the Cavaliers may have expected a much less competitive game from the Wolfpack, as N.C. State softball is in its inaugural season. With 14 freshmen on a 19-player roster, much-needed game experience could be a reason for their recent successes.
"I think they have improved a lot since the beginning of the season, and they are really putting it together," Sprangel said.
Virginia began the weekend on a high note, winning Friday games against Seton Hall and the Wolfpack. Saturday afternoon began slowly as the Cavaliers' dropped a close game, 3-2, to the Penn State Nittany Lions before rebounding with a 8-2 win over Binghamton.
In a rematch of their first tourney loss, Virginia faced off against Penn State in Sunday's semifinal. Sophomore pitcher Erin Horn's three-hit shutout coupled with sophomore catcher Jenn Wynn's first-ever home run, propelled the Cavaliers to a 5-0 victory and a birth in the tournament championship.
Virginia next competes against the Brown University Bears for the first time in school history. Wednesday's doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. at The Park. Following their mid-week competition, the Cavaliers will begin ACC play against North Carolina while simultaneously ending their 17-game home stand.
If the Cavaliers' recent rollercoaster stretch of home games has taught them anything, it is that they now have the ability to handle any "extra" challenges conference play may bring.
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