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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (21-14, 7-1 ACC), coming off its third conference series win of the season, welcomes Towson to The Park for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Live stats will be available on VirginiaSports.com.

The Cavaliers, who boast a 9-2 record at home this season, took two-of-three from then-No. 22 North Carolina over the weekend. Virginia continues to receive votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll; head coach Eileen Schmidt’s squad has won eight of its last 10 games.

Seniors Sarah Tacke and Nicole Koren continue to pace the UVa offense. Tacke ranks third among ACC players with a .405 batting average and leads the team with eight doubles and 31 RBI on the year. Koren, meanwhile, has a team-best 25 runs, including nine homers, to go along with 19 RBI. Alison Pittman (.279) and Clara Kendall (.267) lead Virginia on the basepaths with 10 and 11 stolen bases, respectively.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell has 17 wins in the circle for the Cavaliers this season and picked up both wins over the Tar Heels. She registers a 2.74 ERA and has thrown 21 complete games. The White Plains, Md., native has struck out 184 batters in 168 2/3 innings of work.

Towson is also having a solid season thus far with a 22-8 overall record, including an 8-4 mark on the road. The Tigers swept a three-game series from UNC Wilmington over the weekend, winning 1-0, 7-0 and 9-0.

Senior Mindy Bean hits .350 to lead the Towson offense while classmate Stef Streets (.341) contributes five doubles and 21 RBI. Streets and teammate Sammi DiPompo (.322) each have four home runs on the season while DiPompo has a team-best 27 RBI.

The Tiger pitching staff consists of four players who have seen significant time in the circle; Freshman Katie Lingmai boasts a 1.02 ERA and is 8-2 this season. She has 59 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings while Dominique Ortega has a 1.42 ERA. Shannon Johnston, who posts a 2.50 ERA, and Ortega each have six wins on the year.

Virginia leads the all-time series with Towson, 11-6. The two teams did not meet last season, however, the Tigers claimed both games of a midweek doubleheader in 2008, winning 2-0 and 5-2 over the Cavaliers in Towson, Md. The last UVa win over Towson was in 2007; Virginia swept both games 5-3 and 4-2 in Charlottesville.

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