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cavalier profile MARCY BOWDREN Fourth-Year • Softball Whether making a play in the infield or crouched down behind the plate, Marcy Bowdren has been a fixture in the Virginia softball program since she arrived on Grounds in the fall of 2010. As a first-year, the Fairfax Station, Va., native finished third on the Cavaliers in batting average (.289) and hits (31). After spending time at second base and catcher throughout her first two years in Charlottesville, Bowdren shifted over to third base in the spring of 2013. She spent the bulk of her third-year campaign at the hot corner, before ultimately moving back to second this year. "I love playing catcher, but I've grown to love third the most," she said. No matter what her defensive assignment was, Bowdren has been a team leader on offense. Last year, she fashioned a 12-game hitting streak — that ranks as the fourth longest in program his- tory . "I wanted to see how long it could go, I probably jinxed myself," Bowdren quipped. "I've never had that long of a hitting streak in my life. That's just another thing you said that you did, and it was a cool experience." In 2013, Bowdren led the Cavaliers with a .309 batting average, while compiling 47 hits, 26 runs scored, four home runs and 23 RBI. In the process, she was the sixth-toughest batter in the nation to strike out, averaging 38.0 at-bats between whiffs. This year, she was hitting a team-best .333 with four home runs and 15 RBI through March 31. As impressive as she has been on the field, Bowdren has been equally productive in the classroom. The consummate student- athlete, she was named to the ACC Honor Roll her first-year season, before earning back-to-back All-ACC Academic Team honors in 2012 and 2013. She said that it was a challenge at first, but in the end it all comes down to time management. "I feel like you have to sacrifice a lot if you want to have a good GPA, but it will pay off in the end" Bowdren said. "It's a lot of late nights and a lot of pre-planning and organization. From a freshman to now, it's amazing what I've learned. It definitely improves with age, and each year, I've gotten better with it." — Drew Goodman ◆ Photo by Thomas Wilson/courtesy UVa i29.CP-Marcy Bowdren.indd 53 4/2/14 9:35 AM