Virginia sweeps Pitt with 10-2 win Sunday

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia softball team (26-21, 12-9 ACC) picked up its third sweep in ACC play on Sunday as the Cavaliers grabbed a 10-2 victory in six innings over Pittsburgh (14-24, 2-17 ACC) at Palmer Park. With the win, the Cavaliers have locked up a spot in the upcoming ACC Championships.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia got the scoring started in the first inning, pushing a run home on a single to center from Sarah Coon that drove in Gabby Baylog. The scoring continued a few batters later when Katie Goldberg slid in under the tag at the plate on a groundball back to the pitcher from Tori Gilbert. Kailyn Jones then drove in the third run with an infield single that brough home Coon.

Pitt got a run back in the second with a double to the wall from Haylie Brunson.

The Cavaliers would add a single run in the third on a single to right from Jones before putting together another three-run inning in the fourth. Virginia got a two-RBI single from Baylog as part of that fourth-inning rally before the junior would score on a Panther error to put the Hoos up 7-1.

Pitt would get a run back in the top of the sixth before the Cavaliers would put together a third three-run rally, capped by a walk-off single from senior Emma McBride to secure the sweep. Fifth-year Kate Covington and senior Bailey Winscott also scored in the inning as seniors factored heavily into the close of the walk-of win.

Mackenzie Wooten (3-0) picked up the win in relief, working 3.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Abby Edwards (1-2) took the loss in the start, allowing four runs on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• Virginia’s 26 wins on the year is the most in a season since the 2012 campaign when UVA went 26-25.
• UVA swept its third ACC series this season (NC State, Boston College, Pitt) with the win over the Panthers.
• The 12 wins in ACC play is the second most in program history after the 2010 season when UVA notched 13 wins.
• The Hoos are assured to have at least a .500 record in ACC play for the first time since the 2010 season.
• UVA has secured a berth in the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2019 and third time under Coach Hardin.
• The run-rule win was the fifth of the season for the Cavaliers and first in ACC play this year.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was great to end the series with a walk-off that way and was very fitting that Emma McBride came through in that moment and got that at bat. It was fun to send out our seniors the right way and enjoy the time with them. This class has been special to our program and I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach them and see them build what they set out to build when they got on Grounds four years ago. Now we’re looking forward to some time to recover before we head on the road to play Longwood on Tuesday and then continue on to Louisville to close out conference play and get ready for the ACC tournament.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS

Virginia returns to action on Tuesday (April 26) when the Cavaliers travel to Longwood. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. in a game streamed on ESPN+.