Virginia Blanks South Dakota State, 13-0
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HENDERSON, Nev. The Virginia softball team improved to 6-2 on the season with a 13-0 shutout of South Dakota State Friday in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. For the second straight game, the Cavaliers tied a school record with four home runs. Sophomore Nicole Koren hit two while Abby Snyder and Sarah Tacke also went yard in the winning effort.
In its two games on Saturday, Virginia outscored its opponents 24-0 and combined to hit eight home runs.
Against the Jackrabbits, Virginia scored 13 runs on 13 hits, led by a 3-for-3 performance at the plate from senior Carly Winger. Snyder, Koren and Clara Kendall each went 2-of-3 in the batter’s box.
Senior Karla Wilburn picked up her fifth win of the season in her fifth consecutive complete game. She threw five innings and allowed just four hits. She also recorded three strikeouts and two walks.
The Cavaliers put up five runs in the first inning. With one out, Cipolloni walked and stole second. A Winger single through the left side moved Cipolloni over to third and Winger took second on the throw. A Tacke groundout scored Cipolloni and after a Lauren McCaskey walk, Snyder doubled to right center to score both Winger and McCaskey. Koren, the next batter, hit a bomb to deep center for two more runs for a 5-0 Virginia lead.
UVa added three more in the second. Pittman singled up the middle and Cipolloni beat out an infield bunt to put two runners on base. Winger then reached on a fielder’s choice as the Jackrabbits cut down Cipolloni at second. As Winger stole second, a pick-off attempt to get Pittman at third went into left field and she would come home to score. Tacke homered to center to make it 8-0 in favor of the Cavaliers.
A four-run fourth inning was highlighted by back-to-back Cavalier home runs Snyder’s was three-run shot to left and Koren followed that up with another shot over the left field fence. The Cavaliers added one more in the top of the fifth for a 13-0 advantage.
SDSU hurler Jenna Martson took the loss in the circle, allowing nine earned runs. She walked three and struck out two.
Virginia continues tournament play at 3:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Saturday against Cal-Fullerton.