Softball: Virginia blanks UNC, 3-0, to open weekend series

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Eden Bigham threw a shutout for the third straight start as Virginia defeated North Carolina by a score of 3-0 on Friday at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After putting runners in scoring position early, the Cavaliers (24-10, 5-5 ACC) broke through in the fourth inning with three runs that would prove to be the only scoring in the game.

With two runners on and one out, Lauren VanAssche hit a foul fly to left that was caught on the run. Abby Weaver took the opportunity to sprint home and slide under the tag for the first run. Leah Boggs advanced to third on the play to set up a score on a double to left from Gabby Baylog. A throwing error on the play allowed Baylog to head to third and set up her score on a fielding error at short on a ground ball from Kailyn Jones.

The lead would hold down the stretch as the Hoos locked up the shutout against the Tar Heels (13-24, 3-7).

Bigham (9-3) picked up the win as she allowed only three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in the complete-game effort.

Kenna Raye Dark (3-5) took the loss as she allowed the three runs – two of them earned – on five hits. She walked three and struck out two in 3.2 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• It was the first game between the teams in Charlottesville since the 2018 season.
• The complete-game shutout was the third consecutive in a start for Bigham.
• Bigham has picked up the win in four straight appearances dating back to last week’s start against Hofstra in a doubleheader with the Pride.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“We stuck with it. We were gritty but a little off balance at the beginning. We kept playing our game and strung some hits together. We had some timely hitting in the fourth inning. It was good to see Gabby Baylog not just hit the ball hard, but take advantage of a throwing error in that inning. It was really good softball across the board. Eden Bigham did what she does and kept them off balance. There are a lot of positives going into game two on Saturday.”

UP NEXT

Virginia and North Carolina continue the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday as part of Military Appreciation Weekend at Palmer Park.