Cavaliers Welcome Liberty for Wednesday Doubleheader

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (14-12, 2-0 ACC) returns home to The Park on Wednesday for a doubleheader with Liberty. Game times are set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; live stats will be available on VirginiaSports.com.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 2-3 road trip at the Judi Garman Invitational in Fullerton, Calif. On Sunday, Virginia upset No. 2 Arizona 2-1 for its second win over a top-5 opponent this season.

Senior Sarah Tacke continues to lead UVa at the plate this season. The right fielder is hitting .415 on the year with a team-best seven doubles and 22 RBI. Sophomore transfer Kennedy Byxbee also contributes a .316 batting average while senior Nicole Koren is hitting .300 with seven home runs and 16 RBI.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell continues to be solid in the circle, racking up 10 wins and 14 complete games this season. She also has 131 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings of work.

Liberty (13-8, 0-2 Big South) plays at home Tuesday vs. Radford in its home opener. The Flames and Highlanders will be concluding a three-game series, in which Radford claimed the first two games last week, 8-2 and 7-6. Most recently, the Flames defeated North Carolina A&T over the weekend, 12-3.

Sophomore Kelly Strickland leads Liberty in the batter’s box with a .400 average, in addition to a team-best seven home runs and 23 RBI. Teammate Danielle Howard is batting .326 with five home runs and 16 RBI. Pitcher Danielle Howard (6-3) paces the pitching staff with 73 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings.

Virginia leads Liberty in the all-time series, 36-16. Last year the Cavaliers swept the doubleheader, 2-1 and 7-6 in Charlottesville.