Softball: Fighting Irish prevail, 10-3, to even series with Hoos

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

A tight game early turned with a big sixth inning for the home team, as Virginia dropped game two of the weekend series at Notre Dame by a score of 10-3 on Saturday. The rubber match of the series is set for noon on Sunday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia (25-11, 8-6 ACC) opened the scoring for the second straight game, pushing two runs home in the first inning. Jade Hylton led off with a double to the wall and center then came home two batters later when Abby Weaver doubled to left. Weaver then scored on a single up the middle from Sarah Coon and the Hoos led 2-0 after the top of the first.

Notre Dame (22-13, 7-7) had an answer in the home half, putting back-to-back batters on before a double up the middle from Addison Amaral drove two runs home. The Irish doubled the lead in the third with a two-run home run to right field from Karina Gaskins.

The Cavaliers cut the lead to one in the fifth with a sac fly to left from Bella Cabral that brough Hylton home from third. Hylton reached on a triple to right center in the previous at bat.

Notre Dame got the run back in the home half of the fifth with an infield single to third with the bases loaded.

The Irish extended the lead in the sixth, putting two on with a single and a throwing error on a sac bunt attempt. A steal of second put two in scoring position before a wild pitch on ball four brought the first run home and left runners at the corners.

A single up the middle brought two more runs home and took the lead out to 8-3. The Hoos traded a run for an out with a groundout to third from Emily Tran before Rachel Allen would make it 10-3 with a single dropped on the line in left field.

Madison Harris (7-2) took the loss in relief, allowing eight runs – five of them earned – on eight hits with five walks and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of relief work. She entered the game with the score tied 2-2 in the first and no outs on the board for the Irish.

Shannon Becker (6-3) worked a complete game for the Irish, allowing the three runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• It’s the first time this season that the Hoos have lost when scoring at least three runs in a game.
• Jade Hylton went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and holds a five game hit streak
• Virginia had won 10 of its last 11 games coming into the Saturday matchup with the Irish.
• The Cavaliers enter the Sunday game with a chance to win the program’s fourth ACC series of the year.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“Today came down to execution and we Weren’t clean at the plate, in the circle or on defense. We had opportunities to score runs. We put up the two spot early and came out with a lot of energy. They put up three zeroes after that. I’d like to see us have some more quality at bats there in the middle and push things a bit.

“It’s a great team and the ACC is a tough conference. We won’t get away with mistakes on defense, mental mistakes or being in the wrong spot. Notre Dame capitalized on our mistakes today. We need to come out tomorrow, make sure we play 21 strong outs and fight our butts off until the game is over.”