Hokies Up Next for Virginia Softball

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (15-13, 2-0 ACC) gets back to Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Virginia Tech. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday beginning at 12 p.m., and the series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats will be linked on VirginiaSports.com.

The Cavaliers are coming off a midweek doubleheader split with Liberty. The Cavaliers won the first game 4-0 before falling to the Flames 6-4 in game two.

Sarah Tacke leads the Virginia offense with a .415 average on the year, including a team-best seven doubles and 22 RBI. Her .415 average ranks second in the conference only to Jen Yee of Georgia Tech, who is hitting .580.

Kennedy Byxbee is hitting .300, mostly in a pinch-hitting role, and Nicole Koren averages .276. Koren also leads the Cavaliers with a team-best seven home runs in addition to her 16 RBI.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell has 15 complete games with an era of 2.72. She has 148 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings of work; those 148 strikeouts currently rank fourth among ACC pitchers.

The Hokies are 13-17 on the year with a 2-1 mark in ACC play, having opened conference action winning two-of-three at NC State. Whitney Davis leads Virginia Tech with a .307 average at the plate. Richelle McGarva is hitting .289 while contributing eight doubles and 17 RBI.

Jasmin Harrell and Kenzie Roark have each seen significant time in the circle this year for VT. Harrell (2.43 ERA) leads the staff with seven victories while Roark (2.56 ERA) has a team-best 66 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings.

The Cavaliers have played Virginia Tech each season since 1998, with the Hokies holding a 22-13 advantage. VT has claimed 10 of the last 12 games between the two teams and took two-of-three in Charlottesville last year.