After two tough losses Friday and Saturday, the Cavaliers (14-11, 4-2 ACC) came up with 10 hits Sunday to win by six runs against Georgia Tech (18-11, 3-3 ACC) at Mewborn Field in Atlanta.
Game 1: Virginia 0, Georgia Tech 13
The Yellow Jackets scored eight runs to take a substantial lead in the third inning. After walking three batters and giving up a single and a double, senior pitcher Allyson Frei was replaced by freshman pitcher Clare Zureich on the mound. With the bases loaded, Zureich allowed two runs to score on a walk and hit-by-pitch. Georgia Tech senior catcher Kaylee Ellebracht caused further damage with a grand slam over the center field fence.
Georgia Tech expanded the lead to 13 in the fourth inning on just one hit. Zureich walked four batters in the inning and gave up three runs before being taken out. Another two runs crossed the plate before the inning was over.
Sophomore outfielder Kate Covington went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of singles. Senior pitcher and infielder Lacy Smith also came up with a single to extend her hitting streak. Virginia failed to capitalize on four hits and the game ended in a run-rule in the fifth inning.
Game 2: Virginia 3, Georgia Tech 6
A double in the first inning by Georgia Tech put two runs on the board to start the game. Virginia had the chance to tie things up in the third when junior infielder Ashlee Davis led off with a single to left center. Sophomore infielder Hayley Busby followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position, but the Cavaliers came up empty in the next two at-bats, stranding both runners and remaining scoreless.
The Yellow Jackets continued the drive in the bottom of the third with a triple to right center by senior infielder Katie Krzus. Krzus later scored on a wild pitch, making it a 3-0 game. A home run followed by a walk and double in the fourth caused further damage, and senior pitcher Erika Osherow replaced freshman pitcher Aly Rayle on the mound to escape the inning.
Busby hit another double in the top of the fifth to put runners in scoring position, and this time Smith delivered with a home run to center field, making it a 5-3 ball game. However, Georgia Tech added an insurance run in the following inning, and Virginia was unable to match the Yellow Jackets’ six runs.
Game 3: Virginia 7, Georgia Tech 1
Virginia ended the weekend with a victory Sunday, taking down the Yellow Jackets 7-1 to surpass their three ACC wins in 2018. Freshman outfielder Tori Gilbert produced her first career home run in the top of the second, crushing the first pitch of her at-bat over the left center fence. Gilbert’s three RBI put the Cavaliers ahead 3-0 to take the lead for the first time in the series.
In the top of the third, freshman catcher Donna Friedman and Osherow each singled up the middle. Junior infielder Ashlee Davis lifted a fly ball to the center field wall to score one run and Osherow later scored on an error by the catcher, unearned.
Frei pitched a complete game, striking out four and holding Georgia Tech to a single run in the fifth inning.
Friedman and Osherow both finished 2-for-3 at the plate, coming up with back-to-back doubles in the seventh to make it a 7-1 final score.
Standing Out
Smith hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth, making it her 11th of the season. She was perfect at the plate with four hits in the game. Her hitting streak now sits at 15 games, and she has a career best 29 RBI for the season.
The Cavaliers next play against Maryland Tuesday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park.
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