Softball: Quartet of Cavaliers earn All-ACC honors

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Posted on Wednesday, May. 8, 2024, 8:02 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Image: UVA Athletics

Four members of the Virginia softball team earned All-ACC honors, it was announced by the league office prior to the start of the ACC Championship on Wednesday.

Sophomores Eden Bigham and Jade Hylton were named to the All-ACC First Team, while junior Shelby Barbee was named to the Third Team. Freshman Bella Cabral was named to the All-Freshman Team.

It’s the second-straight year Bigham has been named to one of the three All-ACC teams. Hylton was an All-Freshman selection a year ago, and she and Barbee make their first appearances on one of the three All-ACC teams.

It’s also the first time Virginia has had two players named to the first team since the 2005 season.

Bigham, a right-handed pitcher, led the ACC in strikeouts (161) in the regular season and posted a 14-7 record in the circle. A three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week selection, she posted a 2.22 ERA and held opponents to a .175 batting average against this season.

Bigham turned in five complete game performances in ACC play, including complete-game shutouts against Boston College, North Carolina and NC State. She also posted saves against Syracuse, No. 11 Clemson and No. 3 Duke to help the Cavaliers secure series wins.

Hylton has been the top offensive producer for the Cavaliers this season, batting at a .342 clip with a team-leading 12 home runs, 33 runs scored and 37 RBI. She upped her average in ACC play, hitting at a .354 clip.

The shortstop hit big home runs for the Cavaliers in a series win at No. 3 Duke, tallying a grand slam in a 4-3 win and hitting a two-run home run in a 3-2 win. Hylton also homered in series wins over No. 11 Clemson, twice against NC State and at Georgia Tech.

Barbee hit at a .319 clip in ACC play and was named an ACC Player of the Week selection after Virginia’s final week of play as she led the Hoos to a series win at Georgia Tech.

In that series, Barbee hit .667 with three home runs and was clutch in the series-clinching win as she drove in the tying run and then drove in what proved to be the deciding run in the seventh inning on Sunday. She posted a .507 on base percentage in ACC play as she drew 11 walk and was hit by eight pitches.

Cabral has started every game at second base for the Cavaliers in her first season. She has hit .268 on the year in the two spot in the lineup, tallied six home runs and is second on the team with 30 RBI and 20 runs scored.

Two of Cabral’s six home runs came in the series win at Notre Dame as she helped the Hoos win seven of eight ACC series played.