UVa Takes Cavalier Classic Crown

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team improved to 8-7 this season after shutting out Columbia 8-0 and Delaware State 9-0 Saturday at The Park. The Cavaliers finished the round-robin tournament with a 4-0 record on the weekend.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell tossed a complete game in the win over the Lions, allowing just two hits in five innings or work. She finished with five strikeouts and one walk.

Virginia outhit Columbia (0-4) 13-2 for the game, led by two hits each from Giannina Cipolloni, Sarah Tacke, Alex Skinkis, Kristen Hawkins, Abby Snyder and Taylor Williams.

The Cavaliers came out swinging with six runs in the first inning. Cipolloni and Koren each singled and scored on a Sarah Tacke double to left center. Tacke then scored on a Skinkis RBI single to center. After Alexa Martinez reached on a fielder’s choice, Skinkis came home on a Hawkins RBI single to left an Abby Snyder single then brought home Martinez and Hawkins scored on a single from Williams.

Virginia added another run in the second and one in the fourth – a Hawkins solo home run, her second of the season – to take a 9-0 advantage.

Senior Nicole Koren improved to 3-0 in the circle in the second win of the day over Delaware State. She tossed a complete game and finished with four strikeouts.

The Cavaliers compiled nine hits in the win, including multiple-hit efforts from Cipolloni and Tacke. Koren also homered in the winning effort.

After Virginia took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, the Cavaliers piled on seven runs in the second inning, all with two outs. UVa added another run in the third. Delaware State (6-2) finished with six hits and three errors.

Virginia is back in action Tuesday at Longwood. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.