Goldberg leads UVA to 10-2 win over Bowling Green in NISC

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Katie Goldberg had a career day with six RBI and a pair of home runs to help power Virginia to a 10-2 run-rule win over Bowling Green in the second round of play at the National Invitational Softball Championship on Sunday in Fort Collins, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia (28-24) got started with a three-run home run in the first inning when Goldberg lifted a ball over the wall in left field as the first three batters reached for the Cavaliers.

The Hoos then added two more runs in the third with back-to-back solo home runs from Sarah Coon and Tori Gilbert. Virginia extended the lead in the fourth with an RBI single from Goldberg and a two-RBI double from Coon to take the lead out to 8-0.

Bowling Green (33-20) got on the board in the fifth, using a single and a triple to get the first run home to start the frame. The Falcons would then get a one-out double to push a second run home before Virginia would get out of the inning.

Goldberg then hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the fifth to lock up the run-rule victory.

Molly Grube (3-4) picked up the win, working 4.0 scoreless inning and allowing only one hit. She struck out two and walked one.

Payton Gottshall (26-13) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• Virginia is now 11-3 all-time against Bowling Green with this being the first meeting since the 2006 season.
• Goldberg’s two-home run game is the second of the season and her six RBI is a career high.
• Goldberg is now tied for the team lead in home runs with 12 and leads the team with 38 RBI.
• Goldberg now has 12 multiple-hit games on the year and 11 multiple-RBI games – she went 3 for 4 on Sunday.
• Gilbert hit her 12th home run of the season and Coon added her seventh – both in the third inning.
• Coon finished the day with three RBI and now has 35 RBI for the season.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was good to get back on the field and go out and compete. We had 10 RBIs from our three through five hitters and that’s what you’re looking for; they did some good damage. Molly Grube kept us in it and Mackenzie Wooten closed it out. We got to play some players in some new positions which is also exciting. We’re out here to compete, play hard and get that postseason feel. This was a good way to start it out. We get to practice on Monday and then get after it against a good Central Arkansas team. As we get deeper in the tournament it will get more challenging for us, so we need to focus and execute at the plate early to take pressure off our pitching staff to go and compete.”

ON DECK FOR THE HOOS

Virginia will return to action on Tuesday when the Cavaliers take on Central Arkansas. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on FloSoftball.