Softball: Virginia blanks St. John’s in six innings, 8-0

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia picked up a run-rule victory for the second-straight day as the Cavaliers defeated St. John’s by a score of 8-0 in six innings on Saturday at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jade Hylton scored the first two runs of the game with a solo home run to lead off the first and then scoring from second on a throwing error after she stole third in the third inning.

Virginia (9-4) pushed three home runs in the fourth inning, using a two-RBI triple from Leah Boggs and a sacrifice fly from Lauren VanAssche to take the lead out to five runs. Abby Weaver then extended the lead with a two-RBI single off the wall in left in the fifth inning.

Sydney Hartgrove then drove in the final run with a double to right field in the sixth that scored Kelly Ayer and locked up the win.

Jenny Bressler (3-1) picked up the win with 4.2 innings of scoreless work, allowing one hit with four walks and four strikeouts.

Hanna Mearns (0-4) took the loss for St. John’s (2-9) after allowing five runs – four of them earned – on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts through 4.0 innings of work.

NOTES

• Jade Hylton hit her third home run of the season with her leadoff shot in the first inning.
• Hylton went 3 for 4 on the day with two runs scored and the RBI on the home run.
• Sydney Hartgrove delivered her first career RBI with her walk-off hit in the sixth inning.
• Courtney Layne worked 1.1 innings with a walk and two strikeouts in her second appearance of the year.

Hartgrove delivers a run rule, closing up the game 8-0. #GoHoos | #OnTheRise | #HoosNext pic.twitter.com/Yz5g9IbV6f

— Virginia Softball (@UVASoftball) February 25, 2023

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“I am so proud of how our team came out and competed today. We had multiple contributors in all three facets of the game; it was a total team win. Jade Hylton leading off the game with a home run set the tone offensively and the execution continued from top to the bottom of the lineup. We remain disciplined at the plate, which has been a point of emphasis at practice. It was great to see Courtney Layne close the door in the sixth inning. Our pitching staff has kept us in every game this spring. We have so much confidence in our bullpen.”

UP NEXT

Virginia closes out the Cavalier Classic with a pair of games on Sunday. The first game against Howard is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch, while the finale against George Washington is set for 4 p.m.