Softball: Virginia falls to Clemson in ACC Tournament, 8-1

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia softball team dropped its quarterfinal matchup at the ACC Championship on Thursday with an 8-1 loss to fifth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Clemson at the Duke Softball Stadium in Durham.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Clemson (34-16) got on the board in the first inning as Valerie Cagle delivered a bases-loaded single through the left side to bring a run home and keep the bases loaded. The Hoos (32-18) would record three straight outs to get out of the jam down only 1-0.

The Tigers added a second run in the second inning as a single followed by back-to-back wild pitches and a walk put runners at the corners with one out. A single through the right side following a Cavalier pitching change brought the run home , but again the Hoos limited the inning to one run.

Virginia got on the board in the fourth with an RBI single up the middle from Sarah Coon. The Hoos got two on with a bunt single from Abby Weaver and Shelby Barbee was hit by pitch. Coon then drove a ball back up the middle to score Weaver from second and cut the lead to 2-1.

Clemson pushed three runs home in the fifth, using a sac fly followed by a two-out, two-RBI single from Alex Brown taking the lead out to 5-1.

The Tigers then added three more runs in the seventh, beginning with an RBI double from McKenzie Clark before Valerie Cagle drove in two more with a single up the middle.

Courtney Layne (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. She was the first of three pitchers used on the afternoon.

Regan Spencer (10-3) picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN

“It was a disappointing outing for us. We felt like we had the right plan across the board. Courtney and Madi wiggled out of a few jams for us early and then we cut the lead in half in the fourth inning and had a little momentum going, so it was disappointing to dwindle down the end.

“We gave away 11 free passes and had three errors, and you won’t win many games against good opponents playing like that. It’s a good test and reminder that you have to play you’re “A” game all of the time, especially in postseason softball. We’ll learn from it and get ready for the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday.”

UP NEXT

Virginia will await the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field on Sunday night. The NCAA Softball selection show will air at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.