Cavaliers Fall 6-1 at Florida State

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Virginia softball team (18-21, 2-9 ACC) fell 6-1 at Florida State Sunday in the series finale at JoAnne Graf Field in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles won the series two games to one after the teams split a doubleheader on Saturday.

Florida State (19-21, 5-7 ACC) outhit UVa 8-6. Junior Giannina Cipolloni led the way at the plate with a pair of singles. Alison Pittman, Marcy Bowdren, Stephanie Harris and Cynthia Javaras also had hits for the Orange and Blue.

After four scoreless innings, Virginia was first to strike with a run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, senior Alison Pittman walked. Marcy Bowdren then singled off the pitcher’s glove, allowing Pittman to advance to third because of a throwing error by FSU second baseman Tiffani Brown. Pittman was able to score on a Stephanie Harris bloop single to left as UVa went up 1-0.

Florida State responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs. With one out, Morgan Bullock singled to left and Brown followed with a single up the middle. As Brown made a move toward second, Harris, playing at first, made a throwing error trying to catch Bullock at third, and she was able to score. Brown moved up to third on the play and scored on teammate Shayla Jackson’s RBI single to left. Jackson would eventually score after a hit-by-pitch and bunt single on Celeste Gomez’s sacrifice fly to left.

The Seminoles tacked on three runs in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally to take a 6-1 advantage.

Florida State senior Sarah Hamilton earned the win in the circle. She did not allow an earned run in the contest and finished with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Virginia’s Melanie Mitchell pitched all six innings and took the loss. She gave up five earned runs and tallied five strikeouts and two walks.

The Cavaliers are back in action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Delaware State. Game times are set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.