Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team (23-9, 2-4 ACC) will play host to Maryland (16-6, 2-4 ACC) in a three-game series this weekend at The Park. The Cavaliers and Terrapins will compete in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday before closing the series at 1 p.m. Sunday. Live stats will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia is riding a four-game winning streak after sweeping doubleheaders with George Mason and Liberty during the week. Last weekend Virginia Tech took two-of-three from the Cavaliers at home. UVa will look for its first ACC series win against the Terps this weekend.
Virginia, which is 11-2 at home this season, currently ranks first in the conference in triples (13), second in batting (.291), second in home runs (28) and second in runs (190).
Sarah Tacke also ranks among the conference leaders, tied for second in batting (.417) and also has a team-high 35 hits, nine home runs and 36 RBI. Additionally, three Cavaliers – Carly Winger, Alison Pittman and Giannina Cipolloni – have stolen at least 11 bases this season.
Senior Karla Wilburn boats a 17-4 record this season with a 1.85 ERA in 128.1 innings pitched. Wilburn has 18 complete games and four shutouts this season. Her 17 wins are also the most in the ACC.
The Terps enter Charlottesville coming off of a series against NC State at home last weekend. Maryland won two of the three games, including a 7-6 victory in eight innings in the series finale.
Breanna Shaw and Kerry Hickey lead the team from the plate with 11 RBI and six doubles each. Michelle Takeda adds power to the mix with her six home runs. Kerry Hickey paces the pitching staff with an ERA of 2.20 in 89 innings pitched. She has a 7-4 record and 92 strikeouts on the season.
Virginia leads the all-time series with Maryland, 29-14. The Terrapins, who have won six of the last seven meetings, took the series last season with two wins in College Park.