Softball: Cavaliers heading to NCAA Tournament for second time in program history

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Posted on Sunday, May. 12, 2024, 9:00 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The Virginia softball team earned the second NCAA Tournament bid in program history and will be the two seed at the Knoxville Regional, it was announced with the release of the tournament bracket on Sunday.

The Cavaliers (32-18) will face MAC Champion and third-seeded Miami (OH) (48-7) in the opening game. First pitch is set for noon on Friday. The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner of the other Friday game between host Tennessee and Dayton. The regional is a double-elimination format.

KNOXVILLE REGIONAL MATCHUPS

Friday, May 17
Miami (OH) vs. Virginia – 12 p.m. ET
Dayton vs. Tennessee – 2:30 p.m. ET

The winner of the Knoxville Regional will advance to a Super Regional to face the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional. Teams in the Tuscaloosa Regional are: Alabama, Clemson, Southeastern Louisiana and USC Upstate.

Virginia finished the season fourth in the ACC standings, the program’s highest finish since the 2010 season when the Hoos finished second in the ACC. That was also the last NCAA Tournament appearance for the Cavaliers.

NOTING THE 2024 CAVALIERS

  • Virginia finished fourth in the ACC after winning 7 of 8 series in ACC play – a program record.
  • Included in those seven ACC series wins were wins over No. 11 Clemson and at No. 3 Duke.
  • Virginia had four players garner All-ACC honors with first-team selections Eden Bigham (RHP) and Jade Hylton (SS), third-team selection Shelby Barbee (1B) and All-Freshman selection Bella Cabral (2B).
  • The Cavaliers hit the 30-win mark for the second straight season, marking the first time to post consecutive 30-win seasons since doing five straight years from 2001-2005.
  • This is the first NCAA Tournament bid since 2010 when Virginia went 1-2 at the Knoxville Regional.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“We’ve been anticipating this for a week or so and are really excited. We appreciate the proximity to Knoxville and how that aligns with our normal practice routine and travel cadence.

“I’m happy for this group of seniors who entered college under all the irregularities around COVID and get to close their careers playing for a national championship in the NCAA Tournament. We enjoyed our few minutes together tonight, but know it’s time to go back to work. We’re excited about the opportunity ahead of us and getting to represent the ACC.”

FROM FOURTH-YEAR CATCHER LEAH BOGGS

“This is an accomplishment that was a long time coming this is a result of years of dedication from a lot of amazing people. It just proves that if you invest in women’s sports, success will follow. We are so grateful for everything this game has given us.

“For the first time in a long time, and for only the second time in program history, UVA softball is going to the NCAA tournament and setting the standard for the future of this program. We weren’t surprised and we aren’t done yet.”