Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team (18-7, 1-2 ACC) will step away from conference play and head to Radford for a doubleheader Thursday at 4 p.m. Live audio will be provided on Radford’s website.
Virginia is coming off a 1-2 performance at NC State last weekend to mark the start of ACC action. The Cavaliers rebounded from a two losses on Saturday to beat the Wolfpack 5-3 Sunday in the series finale. Karla Wilburn improved to 13-2 in the circle while Carly Winger hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to give Virginia the win.
Redshirt junior Sarah Tacke leads Virginia at the plate with a .448 batting average, 30 hits and 33 RBI on the season. She also leads the team, along with teammate Nicole Koren, with eight home runs on the year. Koren is second in batting average, hitting .431 and has 28 hits and 28 RBI.
As a team, Virginia is hitting .301 at the plate while outscoring its opponents 164-72 this season.
Wilburn paces the Cavalier pitching staff with a 1.64 ERA to go along with her 13 wins. She also has 16 complete games in her 17 appearances, including four shutouts. Rookie Stephanie Coates is 5-3 on the year with a 2.38 ERA while Koren and Allee Rife have both made relief appearances this season.
Radford is 17-6 this season and coming off a doubleheader split at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The Hokies took the first game 4-2 but the Highlanders scored 10 runs in the final three innings of game two to earn an 11-6 victory.
On the year, freshman Nichole Beall paces RU, which is 4-1 at home this season, with a .369 average, while twin sister Michele Beall is second with a .354 average. Charlottesville native Kristen Shifflett’s 25 hits, 20 RBI and eight home runs also are a team-best.
In the circle, sophomore Kellie Snooks leads Radford with a 9-1 record and a 1.88 ERA this season. She has tossed three complete games during her seven starts. Classmate Chelsea Kelley is 6-4 on the year with a 2.95 ERA.
Radford took three games from Virginia last season in Charlottesville, winning 5-2, 9-1 and 16-4. In the all-time series, the Cavaliers own a 17-12 advantage.