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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team (10-23, 3-5 ACC) split a doubleheader Saturday with NC State in conference action at The Park. The Cavaliers won the first game 4-0 but fell in the second game 5-0.
Virginia took the first contest behind a complete-game shutout from pitcher Karla Wilburn, her first shutout of the season and the second of her career. Wilburn allowed just five hits in the game while striking out three. The Cavalier defense was solid behind her, committing no errors.
UVa recorded six hits in the win, led by Kelly Haller’s two hits. Carly Winger, Lindsey Preuss and Lauren McCaskey also had hits in game one.
After four scoreless innings, Virginia took the lead in the fifth with four runs. With one out, Wilburn reached on a hard-hit shot to left field that went off the glove of left fielder Ashleigh Davis and was officially ruled an error. After Casey Steffan came on to pinch run, O’Leary reached on another Wolfpack error that scored Steffan from second. Alison Pittman laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second and a Haller walk loaded the bases. The next batter, Winger, singled to shortstop Shanna Smith, who made a nice play to keep the ball in the infield. But Winger’s hit scored O’Leary; Pittman and Haller would then come across home plate when Preuss singled up the middle.
In game two, NC State got a one-hit performance from pitcher Mendy McKenzie, whose no-hitter was broken up in the bottom of the seventh by UVa’s Sarah Tacke. McKenzie, who was coming off a perfect game Wednesday against Winthrop, struck out three in the winning effort.
The Wolfpack got on the board early, scoring one run in the first inning off Virginia starter Whitney Holstun. In the top of the fifth, NC State added three more runs, thanks to a three-run homer to deep center from Smith.
A RBI triple by Alyssa Allbritten in the seventh scored Smith, who got on base with a single up the middle, to give the Wolfpack a 5-0 advantage.
Holstun threw five innings and allowed four runs on four hits while striking out one. First-year Allee Rife came on in relief to throw the final two innings, giving up one run on three hits and fanning two.
The Cavaliers and Wolfpack wrap up the series at 1 p.m. Sunday at The Park. Live stats will be available at VirginiaSports.com.