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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team improved to 15-5 on the season, matching its win total from the 2008 campaign, after sweeping a doubleheader of Lafayette Sunday at The Park. The Cavaliers won the first game 13-1 in five innings and took the second, 8-0, in six.
In game one, senior Karla Wilburn improved to 11-1 this season, giving up just four hits in her five innings of work. She finished with six strikeouts and did not walk a single batter.
Nicole Koren and Carly Winger each went yard in the first game to lead Virginia at the plate. Sarah Tacke doubled and tripled for a three-RBI performance while Abby Snyder also doubled and Casey Steffan had two singles.
The Cavaliers put up three runs in the second inning to jump out to a quick lead. Tacke doubled to center to lead off the inning. With one out, Snyder walked and after a passed ball, Tacke moved to third and Snyder to second. The next batter, Koren, homered to right center, her seventh of the season.
Virginia had a 10-run third inning and batted through the order. Winger hit a two-run home run to center and Snyder doubled to left center to score a run. Lauren McCaskey and Rachel Harvey also had RBI singles and a Megan Wind sacrifice fly to right scored another run. Tacke’s triple over the center fielder’s head cleared the bases, bringing home three more runs, as UVa took a 13-0 lead.
Lafayette scored one run in the top of the fourth. Christine Giambrone singled to left that was followed by a Stacey Kusher RBI double to center.
In the second game, rookie Stephanie Coates picked up her second win of the weekend, throwing the first five innings. She allowed just two hits while striking out two. Sophomore Allee Rife came on to throw the final inning as Lafayette went three-up and three-down.
McCaskey had a solid outing with a 3-for-3 performance in the batter’s box in game two. Tacke went 2-for-3 with three RBI, including her fifth home run of the season, while Abby Snyder also homered.
The Cavaliers came out swinging with four runs in the bottom of the first. Cipolloni, the second batter, tripled. After a Winger walk, both runners would score on Tacke’s long ball to center. Later in the inning, Synder would also homer to center.
Virginia added another run in the second and scored twice more in the third. The team’s lone run in the sixth ended the game because of a run-rule. Rife led off the inning with a single up the middle and came home when McCaskey doubled to right center.
UVa continues its homestand with a doubleheader Tuesday against George Washington. The Cavaliers and Colonials will play at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in a make-up date from last weekend.