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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team (11-5) welcomes Rider and Lafayette to The Park this weekend for two doubleheaders. The Cavaliers, looking to expand on their four-game winning streak, will play the Broncs at 1 p.m. Saturday and conclude the weekend with the Leopards at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Virginia is coming off two wins at home last Saturday against George Washington, downing the Colonials 10-0 and 9-1. Senior Karla Wilburn and redshirt junior Sarah Tacke were named the ACC pitcher and player of the week, respectively, for their efforts. Wilburn matched her win total from a year ago, improving to 9-1 in the circle, and recorded her fourth shut out of the year in the first game against GW. Tacke finished the weekend with a 4-of-5 performance at the plate, including two home runs and two triples. She recorded 10 RBI in the two games.
Redshirt sophomore Nicole Koren leads the Virginia offense with a .489 batting average through 16 games. She also paces the team with 22 hits, 22 RBI, three doubles and six home runs. Sarah Tacke is second with a .381 average and is second with five homers. Wilburn leads the quartet of Virginia pitchers with a 1.50 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
Rider’s last three games have been cancelled because of rain or snow, so the Broncs stand at 0-2 on the season. The squad opened the season with an 8-0 loss to UNC-Greensboro followed by a 14-0 setback to Ohio at UNCG’s Spartan Classic. The Cavaliers are 2-3 all-time against Rider; the last time the two teams met was back in 2002, a 3-2 Virginia win.
Lafayette, meanwhile, was selected to finish second in the preseason Patriot League poll and opens its 2009 campaign Friday at James Madison before traveling to Charlottesville. The Leopards finished 27-24 last season. This will be the first meeting between Virginia and Lafayette.