Courtesy UVA Sports Media Relations
Sophomore Hayley Busby launched a pair of home runs and freshman Aly Rayle spun another gem in the circle to help Virginia clinch the series against NC State with an 8-5 win on Saturday.
Rayle (8-12) earned her second-consecutive win to open the series. She worked seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out six.
Busby produced her second multi-homer game in as many weeks, lifting a solo shot in the third and a three-run blast in the sixth. She extended her hitting streak to 10 games and recorded multiple hits for the third consecutive game.
The Cavaliers (19-30, 7-16 ACC) quelled NC State momentum in the sixth with a four-run top half after the Wolpack pulled within a single run. Singles from Kate Covington and Arizona Ritchie put a pair on for Busby to uncork her second homer of the day. Erika Osherow made it 8-3 Cavaliers with an RBI-double to cap the inning.
NC State (26-25, 6-14) took advantage of a move to the bullpen in the bottom half, using a pair of singles and error to load the bases and score a run. Rayle re-entered the circle and promptly shut down the threat, inducing a double play for a pair of outs as Busby stepped on third and fired home to keep a run from crossing. Another ground ball to third ended the Wolfpack threat with Virginia’s lead intact at 8-4.
Lacy Smith singled in the first and scored on a passed ball to stake Virginia to a 1-0 lead. Busby lifted a solo shot to lead off the third inning, extending the Cavalier lead to 2-0. Ashlee Davis drove home a run with an RBI-single in the fourth and Ritchie made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.
NC State broke through with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fourth from April Visser. Logan Morris pulled State within a single run with a two-run homer in the fifth.
Four hits, highlighted by Busby’s three-run homer, scored four runs in the sixth to rebuild an 8-3 lead for Virginia. NC State used a pair of singles to load the bases and score a run off reliever Allyson Frei in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 8-4.
Skylar Johnston lifted a lead-off solo shot in the seventh for NC State to make it 8-5.
Busby’s 10-game hitting streak marks a career high for the sophomore. Smith went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored. Davis matched a career high with her ninth RBI of the season. Rayle notched five or more strikeouts for the third-straight game.
Virginia will go for the series sweep on Sunday in a noon first pitch from Dail Stadium.
