Softball: Cavaliers sweep doubleheader against Hofstra, pick up 20th win of season

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Posted on Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2023, 1:15 am

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia continued to get production in the circle with as the Cavaliers swept a doubleheader with Hofstra at Palmer Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Cavaliers downed the Pride 2-0 in game one and 4-1 in game two.

GAME 1 – VIRGINIA 2, HOFSTRA 0

Virginia (20-10) got a solo home run to center from Sarah Coon in the first inning to get on the board. The Cavaliers then extended the lead in the fourth with a single run off a squeeze bunt from Gabby Baylog.

Eden Bigham (6-3) picked up the victory in the complete-game effort. She struck out nine and allowed one walk and one hit in the outing.

Haley Venturini (3-4) took the loss, allowing the two runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout through 4.0 innings of work.

GAME 2 – VIRGINIA 4, HOFSTRA 1

Virginia scored first again in game two with a single run as Jade Hylton scored on a line drive to right from Katie Goldberg in the first inning.

Hofstra (8-15) tied the game in the third with a two-out double to right center.

Virginia moved back in front in the fourth with a rally that began with the Cavaliers loading the bases to open the inning. With one out, a groundout to short from Baylog put Virginia back in front. A fielder’s choice bunt from Lauren VanAssche appeared to have ended the inning as the Pride went home on the play, but obstruction was ruled and the run scored to put the Hoos on top 3-1. The final run of the inning came home a play later as Abby Weaver scored when VanAssche got caught in a rundown between first and second on a double steal attempt.

The lead would hold down the stretch as the Hoos locked up the doubleheader sweep.

Jenny Bressler (6-1) picked up the victory as she allowed the one run on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts through 5.2 innings of work. Savanah Henley picked up her first save of the season as she worked the final 1.1 innings.

Julia Apsel (2-4) took the loss as she allowed the four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

NOTES

  • Bigham threw her fifth complete-game of the season and her third shutout of the season.
  • The nine strikeouts from Bigham brings her team-leading season total to 79 strikeouts on the year.
  • Virginia stole three bases on the afternoon for 71 steals on the year which surpasses last year’s total of 69 through only 30 games played this season.
  • Bressler’s eight strikeouts in game two was a season-high for the right-hander.
  • Henley’s save in game two was her first career save.
  • Virginia now leads the series with Hofstra 12-3 and is 6-1 in games played in Charlottesville.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“We love playing in front of our fans and playing at our home. It’s always great to come back and we’re playing well at home which is fun. It was a short weekend with a late night getting home and the players turned it around really well. We’re happy with the outcome today.”

UP NEXT

Virginia goes back on the road in ACC play this weekend with a three-game series at Pittsburgh. The series opener is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, with game two at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the finale at noon on Sunday.