Softball: Virginia downs JMU 7-1 in midweek matchup

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia softball team (22-16) used a four-run first inning to take control of the game and punctuated it with a three-run home run from Sarah Coon in the fourth on the way to a 7-1 victory over JMU (15-16) at Palmer Park on Wednesday.

Virginia jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning as the Hoos took advantage of miscues by the Dukes and some well-placed hits. It started with a ground ball to second from Katie Goldberg that caromed off the fielder and into center, allowing two runs to score. The third run came home on a Leah Boggs ball driven to left that scored Goldberg and a heads up play when Boggs came home on a ball to second from Arizona Ritchie.

JMU got on the board in the fourth with a sac fly to center following a double and a single to open the inning.

Coon then delivered her three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth to push the Virginia lead out to 7-1 for the final margin of victory.

Mackenzie Wooten (2-0) picked up the win in relief, working 2.2 scoreless innings. She allowed three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Alissa Humphrey (8-9) took the loss for the Dukes, allowing the seven runs – five of them earned – on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• The series between Virginia and JMU is now tied 25-25 with the Cavalier victory on Wednesday night.
• The win over the Dukes was the first for the Hoos since 2017 when UVA defeated then No. 14 JMU 5-4 in game two of a doubleheader at JMU.
• Sarah Coon’s home run in the fourth inning was her fifth of the season and UVA’s 31st as a team.
• Mackenzie Wooten’s win was her second win in relief this season and fifth of her career.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was good to bounce back after the weekend. Midweeks have been the Achilles heel for us and I was proud of the focus and being ready to go from the first pitch. Really, there was a lot of intent from the team and it started in warmups. It was good to see us capitalize on some mistakes and have some good at bats. I was hopeful we would score a few more runs late because we left 10 on base, but we talked about coming through in the clutch and timely hitting. Aly threw well in the start and we put it together as a bullpen; that’s what we have to do down the stretch. We’re excited to get back to work tomorrow and prepare for a good series against Duke this weekend.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS

Virginia continues to play at home this weekend with a three-game series against No. 13 Duke. The series begins at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 8) and will continue with game two at 1 p.m. on Saturday and conclude with a noon game on Sunday.