In last weekend's Cavalier Classic, the Virginia softball team got major contributions from its freshman starters. Freshman pitcher Coty Tolar picked up two complete game wins over the course of the tournament, including a 7-4 decision in the championship game against Rutgers on Sunday. Cavalier freshmen Elea Crockett and Brooke Sorber also had a productive weekend from the batter's box as Virginia powered its way to the title. The Cavaliers will look for their freshmen to continue to produce as Virginia (18-15) plays host to in-state rival Virginia Tech (23-9) for a doubleheader this afternoon at the Park.
"They have a great impact because they are key players," Sprangel said. "Our freshmen are playing big roles."
Virginia will look to build on the momentum from the dramatic come-from-behind victory against Rutgers on Sunday that sealed the championship of the Cavalier Classic. In that game, Sorber went 4-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and started a rally in the seventh inning that would tie the game at 3-3.
For Sorber, Sunday's game was a breakout of sorts.
"I've been working hard on my hitting, and I haven't been doing so well," Sorber said. "Sometimes you need a game like this to get it back going again."
Sorber also scored the run that sealed the championship for Virginia when Crockett hit a single to right field in the eighth inning to extend Virginia's lead to 7-3.
"High school is a lot more for fun," Sorber said. "We have fun here, but this is intense. This is supposed to be serious, like a job. You work a lot harder at it than you did in high school, but the rewards are bigger."
Crockett, the team's second baseman, also has performed well. Crockett is second on the team in hitting with a batting average of .319. Over the weekend, Crockett went 8-14 from the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored.
"It's awesome to know that we have freshmen that can step it up," sophomore infielder Sara Larquier said. "All of them have been doing a great job. When they get in, they have really been showing a lot of heart and the desire to want to play and the desire to win."
This afternoon, Virginia will face a Virginia Tech team that is coming off of a win in the Hokie Fastpitch Club Classic. The Virginia Tech offense is potent, with a team batting average of .307 and 167 runs scored. The Hokies' attack is led by catcher Megan Evans, who has hit 10 home runs and driven in 31 runs so far this season, and leadoff hitter Kelly Brown, who is hitting .417 and leads Virginia Tech with eight doubles. Virginia Tech's pitching is also formidable, with a staff ERA of 1.80 and 198 strikeouts in 213.1 innings pitched.
To counter Virginia Tech, Sprangel has had her team work on their performance at the plate.
"We just constantly keep working on hitting," Sprangel said. "Our defense is pretty solid and can be counted on a lot. You can never get enough practice hitting."
Virginia's pitchers will be faced with a challenge this afternoon against a Hokie offense that averages just over five runs per game. The Cavalier pitching staff has combined for only two shutouts on the season, but the staff does have a combined ERA of 2.28, and each of the three starting pitchers on the staff has thrown six complete games.
Read More
With postseason hopes on the line, Virginia completes sweep of Miami
By Emory Huffman | 14 hours agoVirginia has won 10 of its past 11 games.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 20 hours agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
No. 7 women’s tennis’s season comes to frustrating end in NCAA Round of 16
By Gracie Genereux | YesterdayTennessee blitzed Virginia on its home court.
