Home sweet home. It is time for the Virginia softball team to finally play at Davenport Field after the 29 straight games on the road that began the season.
The Cavaliers (10-19, 0-3 ACC) begin their first home series this weekend against Maryland (14-10, 0-0 ACC) with some momentum after sweeping Radford 2-1 and 9-1 Wednesday.
Senior pitcher Coty Tolar picked up both wins to move to 4-5 on the year as she threw 9.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Freshman first baseman Kelly Haller and senior designated player Brooke Sorber led the Cavaliers offensively. Haller was four for five with six runs batted in and two home runs. Sorber, who led off both games with a double, was four for eight with three runs and a run batted in. Sorber has batted .500 (eight for 16) in her last five games.
"I guess things are clicking," Sorber said. "I'm getting more comfortable and getting a few more at-bats."
The importance of gaining some much-needed confidence as the team heads into the home-portion of its schedule was paramount.
"It was so important for us [to get momentum]," Sorber said. "We really needed to have some confidence. It'll be easier playing against Maryland with a couple of wins under our belts recently. Any positive energy we can pull from the Radford game is a good thing. I think our pitchers did well too so they'll have more confidence against Maryland."
The Virginia will look to use the home field to its advantage as the Terrapins display solid play in the field.
"Maryland's strength is really good defense," Virginia coach Karen Johns said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes. The core of their team is definitely playing good defense."
The strength of Maryland's defense is shwon by its runs allowed over its last nine games: 1.67 per game. The Terrapins have gone 7-2 in those games.
Maryland's most successful pitcher this year is sophomore Meredith Nelles, who is 8-4 on the year.
As for batting, Maryland is led by a pair of seniors, shortstop Amber Jackson (.344) and infielder Lindsay Klein (.343). Jackson has eight home runs and 26 RBIs.
Though this has not been the Cavaliers' best season thus far, the team is keeping things in perspective. It has played a very tough schedule and has yet to play at home. Teams usually play better on their home fields, and the Cavaliers agree it is going to be a good feeling to play at home.
"We're very excited to play at home," senior captain Amy McKean said. "It's going to be the same series as UNC. We need to hit the ball and we need to keep Maryland's offense to under two or three runs to win."
Sorber agreed with McKean's sentiment, saying she is glad to come home.
"It was tiring to be on the road, and it'll be good to play in front of our own fans for a change instead of someone else's," Sorber said. "I finally unpacked my suitcase."
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