Cavaliers Split Doubleheader with FSU

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Virginia softball team (18-20, 2-8 ACC) split a doubleheader with Florida State Saturday at JoAnne Graf Field in Tallahassee, Fla. The Cavaliers fought back to clinch a 2-1 lead in the second game after being no-hit in an 8-0 loss in the first game.

Virginia outhit the Seminoles (18-21, 4-7 ACC) 8-5 in the second game, led by freshman Marcy Bowdren, who recorded two hits in the contest. Giannina Cipolloni, Stephanie Harris, Erica Cipolloni, Alex Skinkis, birthday girl Cynthia Javaras and Taylor Williams also singled in the winning effort.

Sophomore pitcher Melanie Mitchell came back to throw game two after a tough start in the first game. In the later contest, she threw all seven innings and allowed one run on five hits. She finished with nine strikeouts.

Virginia struck in the top of the first inning thanks to three consecutive singles by Cavalier freshmen. With two outs, Bowdren singled to center, followed by a Harris single up the middle. With runners on first and second, Erica Cipolloni then singled to right, scoring Bowdren from second.

Then in the top of the fifth, three more singles led to another run for Virginia. Williams led off with a single to right and Giannina Cipolloni followed with a single to left. After Alison Pittman popped out and Williams was caught stealing third, Bowdren came to the plate. She hit a high chopper over the pitcher’s head, which was gathered by FSU shortstop Ashley Stager. By the time Stager threw to first and Bowdren was called safe, Cipolloni had crossed home plate, giving the Cavaliers a 2-0 advantage.

Florida State cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Two walks and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out. After a big strikeout, Briana Hamilton singled to right to score Jen Lapicki from third, who walked to start the inning.

FSU’s Jessica Nori took the loss. She also threw all seven innings, allowing the two runs on eight hits. She finished with one strikeout and one walk.

Florida State took the first game 8-0 in five innings, led by senior Sarah Hamilton’s no-hitter. She threw the complete game with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Mitchell started for Virginia and pitched the first inning before Stephanie Coates threw the final three. Mitchell gave up six runs on five hits with two walks. Coates allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Florida State outhit the Cavaliers 10-0 and scored all of its runs in the first two innings, putting up three in the first and five in the second.

The Cavaliers and Seminoles conclude the series at 12 p.m. Sunday in Tallahassee.