Softball: Eaton’s homer lifts UVA to 3-1 win over BC in ACC home opener

By Colin Moore
JerryRatcliffe.com correspondent

Virginia and Boston College fought in a defensive battle on Friday at Palmer Park, with neither team able to gain a comfortable advantage until Macee Eaton’s two-run home run proved to be the difference in a 3-1 win.

UVA’s Sydney Hartgrove blasted a solo homer to start the scoring, while BC’s Janis Espinoza later answered with a home run of her own before Eaton put on the finishing touches.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers (19-7, 2-2 ACC) and Eagles (10-9, 0-4) fought defensively and on the pitcher’s mound to prevent either offense from catching fire. It took until the bottom of the fourth inning when Hartgrove began the action by hitting a long shot over the right-field wall to get the Hoos on the board at 1-0.

Moments later, Espinoza launched a blast of her own off of UVA reliever Savanah Henley to tie it at 1-1. Unfortunate for Henley, as it was her very first pitch since coming in. Henley had to battle the remainder of the inning as she loaded the bases but managed to come out too unscathed with a groundout to get out of the inning.

The fifth inning was uneventful as both teams went three up and three down. Then came the bottom of the sixth for the Hoos, as Bella Cabral refused to go hitless on the night and laced a ground ball down the first-base line, sneaking in for a one-out single.

It set the stage for Eaton, who launched a deep home run that cleared not just the wall, but also Palmer Park’s fence. She continued her hot hitting with this two-run shot to give the Hoos a 3-1 advantage.

UVA made it interesting in the seventh, with BC getting two runners into scoring position. Henley managed to calm the nerves and secure the win with some tremendous infield play.

Henley (W, 6-0) secured the win, pitching the final three innings and allowing 4 hits with 2 walks, and giving up 1 run. She relieved Eden Bigham, who pitched the first four innings and held the Eagles to a pair hits with a walk sprinkled in. Kelly Colleran (L, 5-2) registered a loss for the Eagles.

BOX SCORE

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• With the win, Virginia pulled even with Boston College in the all-time series at 22-22.
• Hartgrove’s home run in the fourth inning was her fourth of the year and third in the last three games.
• Eaton’s home run in the sixth inning was her team-leading sixth of the season. She now has a team-leading 35 RBI this season.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was a really tough between two tough teams. Macee came through with the big hit and in the bottom of the sixth, that’s tough (as the visiting team) because you know you have to put up two or three runs. We stayed really poised and calm; that will be important as we get into tighter games and games that feel weightier. We played clean and that will be key tomorrow and going into the rest of the season. We go again at 1 p.m. tomorrow and we hope to see everyone at Palmer Park.”

UP NEXT

Virginia continues its three-game home series against Boston College with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Game 3, originally scheduled for Sunday, was moved up due to inclement weather in Sunday’s forecast.