Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The No. 17 Virginia softball team dropped game two of a weekend series to No. 11 Virginia Tech by a score of 5-2 at Palmer Park on Saturday.

The teams will play the rubber match of the series at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia Tech (35-6, 10-4 ACC) scored in the first when Addison Foster took third on a wild pitch and a throwing error on the play to get her at third sailed down the left field line.

After back-to-back singles with two outs out two on, Virginia Tech got a third straight single to add two more runs in the second inning. The Hoos responded in the home half with a Madison Greene double to left, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Two more runs came home for the Hokies in the third after the visitors loaded the bases to open the frame. A single up the middle and a sac fly took the lead to 5-1 for Virginia Tech.

If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

The Hoos (33-7, 10-6) got one more run home in the fifth with a sac fly from Macee Eaton that scored Jade Hylton.

Courtney Layne (10-4) took the loss for the Hoos, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout through 2.0 innings in the start.

Bree Carrico (11-0) picked up the win for the Hokies, allowing the two runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Only one of the runs was earned against Carrico.

BOX SCORE

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Jade Hylton took over the top spot in the UVA record book with her fifth-inning run. She now has 179 runs scored in her career to pass the record of 178 set by Heather Field (2001-04).
  • Macee Eaton’s RBI gives her 55 for the season which is sole possession of third in the UVA all-time list for single season RBI. She is chasing her own record of 63 RBI in a season set last season.
  • Freshman Taylor Smith worked a season-long 4.1 innings with her relief appearance against the Hokies.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“We came out and looked a little unsure of ourselves and stymied a little bit defensively. There were a couple of miscommunications or missed calls. Some small things like that we can clean up on the defensive side. Taylor Smith came in and worked out of some jams. Ava Hodges did a great job coming out of the pen in a tough spot. Offensively, we just got caught between some speeds. Going forward we need to have clarity of plan. Tip your cap to Bree Carrico, she’s a great arm and that’s what she does to offenses. It’s important we be ready for one thing and make adjustments tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

Virginia and Virginia Tech conclude the series on Sunday at Palmer Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on ACC Network. Admission to all Virginia regular-season home games is free to the public.

If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

   Navigating: Softball

Softball: No. 11 Hokies blank No. 17 Cavaliers, 5-0, to clinch series

(updated )

One big inning shifted the course of the game on Sunday as No. 17 Virginia fell in the series finale with No. 11 Virginia Tech.

Softball: No. 17 Hoos outlast No. 11 Hokies, 4-3, to kick off Commonwealth Clash weekend series

(updated )

No. 17 Virginia used a three-run homer from Alex Call to vault into the lead and held on to take the series opener from No. 11 Virginia Tech.