Softball: Cavaliers pick up pair of wins to wrap up Rawlings Classic

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Posted on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, 5:00 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The Virginia softball team closed the weekend with a pair of shutouts on Sunday, downing Iowa State in extra innings and using a big second inning to defeat Delaware at Palmer Park.

The Cavaliers (10-4) walked-off Iowa State 1-0 in nine innings before downing Delaware 5-0.

GAME 1: VIRGINIA 1, IOWA STATE 0 (9 Innings)

A battle of pitching and defense went into extra innings on Sunday morning with both sides getting limited chances. The Hoos broke through in the ninth inning, walking it off with a single to right from Sarah Coon that scored Kamyria Woody-Giggetts.

Eden Bigham (4-2) picked up the win in relief, working the final 6.0 innings with only one hit allowed and nine strikeouts against the Cyclones (7-7). She walked two in the scoreless outing.

Karlie Charles (0-2) took the loss as she allowed the run and scattered four hits across her 8.1 innings of work. She struck out seven in the outing.

GAME 2: VIRGINIA 5, DELAWARE 0

Virginia took little time getting on the board, pushing two runs home in the second inning. After Bella Cabral singled to open the inning, MC Eaton doubled off the wall in center to bring her home. Eaton took third on the throw to the plate and scored a batter later when Abby Weaver drove a ball back up the middle. Sarah Coon capped the inning with a three-run shot to left two batters later.

The 5-0 lead would hold as the Cavaliers’ defense and pitching would keep the Blue Hens (8-5) in check.

Madi Harris (3-0) picked up the win as she scattered three hits across 4.0 innings and struck out two batters.

Emily Winburn (4-2) suffered the loss as she allowed the five runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Eden Bigham earned her second win in relief this season with the victory over Iowa State.
  • Madi Harris worked a career-long 4.0 innings in the start against Delaware.
  • Sarah Coon’s home run against Delaware was her team-leading fifth of the season and she now leads the team with 15 RBI.
  • The two shutouts gave the Hoos three shutouts on the weekend

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“We love being at home. Palmer Park is amazing and our fans are amazing. The weather was a bit chaotic this weekend, but we appreciate the fans sticking it out with us.

“I was really proud of the kids grinding things out today. They were really prepared and executed the gameplan against Delaware against a pitcher we knew was good in Wilburn. The pitchers giving up only one earned run over 28 innings is a testament to the work they’ve put in with Coach Allred.

“Moving forward we have to ensure we’re all comfortable to play whatever role we’re asked because that will be important to achieving our goals. The team is really buying into that. We need to be gritty at the plate, executing a plan of attack and clean defense to go along with our pitchers as we move forward into this week at Radford and kicking off ACC play.”

UP NEXT

Virginia will travel to Radford for a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.