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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (27-18, 9-5 ACC) tied a school record after earning its ninth Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season with a 1-0 victory over NC State (25-21, 8-7 ACC) Sunday at The Park. Senior Nicole Koren had the game-winning RBI to score teammate Alex Skinkis in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The victory gave Virginia the series win over the Wolfpack, two games to one. The Cavaliers have won the series with Maryland, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and NC State this season and currently sit in second place behind Georgia Tech (13-1 ACC) in the conference standings. Florida State (9-6 ACC) is directly behind the Cavaliers with Boston College (0-12 ACC) and the Seminoles still on the docket for UVa.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell picked up her 21st win of the season in the circle, the most since Kristen Dennis won 24 games in 2002. That number currently ranks seventh all-time in the Virginia record book. Mitchell threw the complete game shutout with nine strikeouts and no walks.

NC State outhit Virginia 4-3 for the contest, but the Cavaliers took advantage of their scoring opportunity in the sixth inning.

Freshman Taylor Williams led off the stanza with a single through the right side. Skinkis then reached on a fielder’s choice with Williams gunned down at second. McCaskey then grounded out to short after NC State’s Breanna Andrews robbed her of a base hit deep in the hole, but Skinkis was able to take second on the play.

With two outs, Koren stepped to the plate and ripped a single to center, and Skinkis was called safe at home plate to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 advantage.

NC State went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh and Virginia took the win.

Stephanie Call, who earned the win for NC State in game two of the doubleheader yesterday, was credited with the loss. She pitched six innings and finished with three strikeouts and two walks.

Virginia concludes non-conference play with a doubleheader Wednesday at home against Radford. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at The Park.

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