Virginia Picks Up Two More Wins at Pirate Classic

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Virginia softball team improved to 6-2 on the year with two victories Saturday at ECU’s Pirate Classic in Greenville, N.C. The Cavaliers defeated St. John’s in an offensive showdown, 15-8, before shutting out Hofstra 2-0.

Virginia came back from a 3-0 deficit and later trailed 7-6 against the Red Storm. But two five-run innings in the second and fourth, plus a four-run sixth, helped the Cavaliers to a 15-8 victory.

Both Virginia and St. John’s (4-4) finished with 14 hits. Sophomore Kristen Hawkins was 4-for-4 at the plate against the Red Storm with double and a home run and a game-best five RBI. Sophomore Taylor Williams and freshman Stephanie Harris each contributed three hits.

Junior Stephanie Coates earned the win in the circle after coming on to throw the final three innings. She pitched a three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts. Sophomore Melanie Mitchell started the game; she threw four innings and finished with five strikeouts.

St. John’s had four different pitchers throw against the Cavaliers.

In Virginia’s 2-0 win over Hofstra (4-2), Mitchell tossed the complete game shutout. She gave up just five hits and finished with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Both teams had five hits in the contest. Freshman Marcy Bowdren contributed two hits for the Cavaliers, including a double, while Alex Skinkis, Taylor Williams and Alison Pittman also recorded singles.

Virginia scored in the top of the second to go up 1-0. Erica Cipolloni walked to leadoff the inning. Skinkis laid down a bunt and reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Both runners would move up a base on a pass ball and Cipolloni came into score on a sacrifice fly from Pittman.

The Cavaliers scored again in the fifth. Pittman singled up the middle and with one out, moved to second on a Williams groundout. The next batter, Bowdren, singled to right to score Pittman.

Virginia concludes play in the Pirate Classic with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday against Hofstra.