/
.
Cavaliers Win Two at Virginia Tech
Story Links
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia softball team (17-13, 4-0 ACC) clinched the series win against Virginia Tech for the first time since 2005 with a doubleheader sweep over the Hokies Saturday in Blacksburg, Va. Behind freshman pitcher Melanie Mitchell, the Cavaliers took game one 5-0 and held on to win game two 4-3.
The Cavaliers and Hokies will conclude the series at 12 p.m. Sunday. The game was moved up an hour from 1 p.m. to avoid inclement weather.
Mitchell threw a complete game shutout in the first game, limiting Virginia Tech (13-19, 2-3 ACC) to just five hits while fanning 11 batters.
The Cavaliers compiled eight hits at the plate, led by a two-hit performance from freshman Alex Skinkis. A trio of Virginia hitters – Lauren McCaskey, Sarah Tacke and Abby Snyder – each had doubles in the winning effort.
After three scoreless innings, UVa put up all five of its runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, McCaskey doubled down the left field line and Koren walked. Tacke then doubled and advanced to third on the throw in as McCaskey and Koren each came in to score. Skinkis followed with a walk and stole second; Tacke then scored on Alison Pittman’s RBI single to left. With two outs and runners on second and third, Snyder doubled to score Skinkis and Pittman and give UVa a 5-0 advantage.
Virginia went on to outhit the Hokies 11-6 in game two, behind another solid outing from Mitchell. Nicole Koren was three-for-four in the win while Skinkis had another multi-hit game and Pittman led the Cavaliers with two RBI.
Mitchell threw her second complete game of the day and finished with six strikeouts. Only two of VT’s three runs were earned.
Once again the Cavaliers compiled all of their runs in one inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first. With one out, McCaskey doubled to right center. Koren then recorded an infield single, advancing McCaskey to third. After Koren stole second, Tacke singled up the middle to score McCaskey. With two outs, Skinkis then tallied an infield single to score Koren. Kendall recorded UVa’s third infield single of the stanza and both Skinkis and Kendall came in to score on Pittman’s triple to left center.
Virginia Tech chipped away at Virginia’s lead, scoring a run in the second, fifth and seventh innings, but the Hokies left two runners on in the bottom of the seventh and were unable to bring in the tying run.