The Boston College softball team (29-27, 5-13 ACC) took on the University of Virginia (15-37, 6-15 ACC) in a two-day, three-game series this weekend at Shea Field in Chestnut Hill.
After winning both games of a double-header on Saturday, the Eagles were unable to complete the sweep, as they fell to the Cavaliers, 2-1, on Sunday.
Allison Gage returned to the mound for BC on Sunday, after a dominating performance in both games the previous afternoon. She pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out four.
BC scored first in the bottom of the third inning as Alison Kooistra hit a solo home run to right field, the first of her career.
UVA tied the score in the top of the fourth as Sarah Tacke drove in Alison Pittman.
The score remained 1-1 until the top of the seventh inning when Virginia's Kierstie Cameron hit a home run to left field, giving the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead. Relief pitcher Allee Rife secured the victory for UVA, holding the Eagles scoreless in the bottom of the seventh.
BC defeated the Cavaliers, 6-2, in the first game and 6-4 in the later contest of Saturday's doubleheader. Gage pitched all 14 innings, allowing an aggregate six runs (all earned) on 14 hits, with four strikeouts and three walks.
In the first game, BC opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run homer by Gemma Ypparila, scoring Irene Delagrammaticas who had reached first with a single. This was Ypparila's first collegiate home run and her seventh hit of the season.
UVA was able to tie the score with a pair of RBI singles, from Meghan O'Leary and Abby Snyder in the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, BC scored two more runs off UVA starter Karla Wilburn. Amy Tunstall hit an RBI single and was then able to score on an error by Cavalier left fielder Lindsey Preuss.
Virginia then switched pitchers, sending Whitney Holstun to the hill. The only batter Holstun faced was junior Renee Ramos, who drilled the first pitch to dead center field for a two-run homer, giving BC a 6-2 lead, which Gage was able to hold onto.
In the second game, Tacke put Virginia on the board early with a two-run blast, in the top of the first inning.
BC got a run back in the home-half of the first. Ramos drove in Carley McNary with a single, cutting the deficit to one.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but the Eagles staged a five-run rally in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Tunstall hit an RBI single, scoring senior Amanda Booth. Then, UVA shortstop Carly Winger made an error, allowing Carolyn Jones to score. Finally, with two outs in the inning, Dani Wier hit a three-run homer scoring Ramos and Allie Thunstrom.
The Cavaliers mustered two more runs in the top of the sixth, but Gage and the Eagles persevered to sweep the twin-bill.
The Eagles host Massachusetts on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Shea Field.
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