Softball Falls to Florida State in ACC Championship

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April 25, 1998

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Virginia softball beat North Carolina 6-0 to advance to the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game to face the Florida State Seminoles. Both teams battled hard, with FSU pulling out a 2-1 decision to take the conference crown.

Stacey Zagol pitched an impressive game for UVa, as she struck out four batters while scattering five hits. With the game tied 0-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Florida State got on the scoreboard first when Tami Post scored on an error by UVa’s Lori Reese to make it a 1-0 game. The Cavaliers answered right back in the top of the sixth inning when Amy Peay (1-2, 1 RBI) singled to score Lori Reese (1-3, run) to tie the game at 1-1. In the bottom of the sixth inning, FSU’s Christy Cerecedes scored the game-winning run on teammate Kristy Hull’s single to make it a 2-1 Florida State lead. Virginia gathered a hit in the top of the seventh inning when Stacy Holmes (2-4) singled. However, the Cavaliers were unable to score in the inning. Jen Krill (1-3) and Meaghan Young (1-4) added hits for UVa in the 2-1 loss.

The Cavaliers advanced to the championship game by eliminating the number-one seed North Carolina 6-0. Leading the game 1-0, Virginia scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to run away with the win. UVa’s Zagol recorded seven strikeouts while allowing only three hits in her outing. The Cavaliers posted 11 hits in the game, highlighted by Reese (3-4, 2 RBI, double, run), Karen Breshears (2-4, 2 runs 1 RBI) and Young (2-4, run). Virginia’s Peay (2-3), Corinne Good (1-3, run) and Holmes (1-4, run) added hits in the victory.

With the completion of the ACC Tournament, Virginia finishes the season with an overall record of (38-28). UVA’s Lori Reese, Meaghan Young and Stacey Zagol were each named to the 1998 ACC All-Tournament team. Florida State pitcher Stacy Venable was named the Tournament’s MVP.