Softball: UVA opens 2023 home schedule with Cavalier Classic this weekend

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia softball team opens play at home this weekend, hosting the Cavalier Classic at Palmer Park. Play begins on Thursday against Longwood at 4 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend.

In addition to the Cavaliers (6-4) and Longwood (4-5), four other teams will compete in the event: George Washington, Howard, UMES and St. John’s. Virginia will play five games across the four days of competition.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday
4 p.m. Virginia vs. Longwood

Friday
10 a.m. – George Washington vs. St. John’s
12:30 p.m. – Longwood vs. George Washington
3 p.m. – Longwood vs. Howard
5:30 p.m. – Virginia vs. UMES

Saturday
10 a.m. – Howard vs. St. John’s
12:30 p.m. Howard vs. UMES
3 p.m. – St. John’s vs. Virginia
5:30 p.m. – UMES vs. George Washington

Sunday
11 a.m. – Howard vs. Virginia
1:30 p.m. – Howard vs. George Washington
4 p.m. – George Washington vs. Virginia

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live stats will be available for all games of the Cavalier Classic, while broadcasts of games involving Virginia will be streamed by ACCNX through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com. Links to the live stats and available streams are at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates on Virginia’s games at the tournament by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVASoftball).

QUICK HITS

• The Cavaliers are hold a 6-4 record and are coming off a weekend at the ACC/Big 10 Challenge that featured two games that went into extra innings and a pair of games decided by one run.
• Molly Grube tossed a complete-game shutout against Minnesota last weekend, working a career-long 9.0 innings in the 3-0 victory over the Gophers.
• Grube and Eden Bigham have now both turned in complete-game shutouts for the Hoos this season as Bigham also tossed a no-hit shutout of Lamar in the opening game of the year.
• MC Eaton continues to lead the Cavaliers at the plate in power and run production with four home runs and 10 RBI after hitting a two-run shot last week at UNCG. She is tied for 14th nationally in home runs and third in the ACC.
  • The Cavaliers have picked up where they left off a year ago with pressure on the basepaths having stolen 20 bases on 26 attempts this season. That ranks 25th nationally and third in the ACC.

THE SERIES WITH LONGWOOD

• Virginia and Longwood have faced each other 38 times with the Lancers leading the series 22-16
• Longwood won the last meeting 5-2 in Charlottesville a year ago and have won five straight in the series
• Virginia last won in the 2016 season with a 6-3 victory in game two of a doubleheader at Longwood

THE SERIES WITH UMES

• Virginia and UMES meet for the first time in the history of the two programs when they face off on Friday

THE SERIES WITH ST. JOHN’S

• Virginia and St. John’s have met three times int he history of the teams with UVA leading 2-1
• The last meeting came in the 2019 season, a game St. John’s won 4-3 in the FAU First Pitch Classic

THE SERIES WITH HOWARD

• Virginia and Howard have met once before with the Cavaliers taking a 13-2 victory in the 2018 season
• The teams met in Washington D.C. as a part of the District Classic

THE SERIES WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON

• Virginia and George Washington have met 17 times with the Hoos leading the all-time series 14-3
• The Cavaliers won the last meeting 6-1 a year ago in the Gamecock Classic at South Carolina on opening weekend
• Virginia has won five straight in the series dating back to the 2016 season