Virginia Tallies Wins Over Colgate, Saint Joseph's

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior outfielder Giannina Cipolloni set the career stolen bases record Saturday as the Virginia softball team (10-2) picked up two more wins with a 13-2 victory over Colgate in five innings before beating Saint Joseph’s 3-1.

Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.) tied the record held by former Cavalier Heather Field (2001-04) with her 65th career steal in the third inning of the second game vs. the Hawks. She then set the mark with her 66th career steal by taking second after she singled up the middle in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the first game, the Cavalier offense took advantage of Raider missteps and exploded for 10 runs in the first two innings. Sophomore Marcy Bowdren (Fairfax Station, Va.) recorded a triple and a single while classmate Erica Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.) and freshman Rachel Gillen (Wilmington, Del.) each doubled.

Gillen (4-1) earned the win in the circle for Virginia, throwing all five innings. She allowed two runs on just three hits and finished with eight strikeouts.

Colgate (0-1) scored its two runs in the top of the fifth when Courtney O’Connell hit a two-run homer.

Junior pitcher Melanie Mitchell (White Plains, N.Y.) tossed a two-hitter in the second game against Saint Joseph’s (3-2). She did not allow an earned run or walk a batter and recorded nine strikeouts to earn her sixth win of the season.

The Cavaliers tallied five hits in the game, led by Erica Cipolloni’s two singles. Freshman Megan Harris (Knoxville, Tenn.), senior Alexa Martinez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and classmate Giannina Cipolloni also singled in the winning effort.

Virginia took a 1-0 lead over the Hawks in the top of the third inning when Erica Cipolloni singled through the right side to score sister Giannina, who reached on a fielder’s choice and stole a base. Then in the fifth, Giannina Cipolloni led off with an infield single. After Taylor Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) drew a walk, both runners advanced on a passed ball and Cipolloni would score on a wild pitch.

The Cavaliers added their third run in the sixth. Saint Joseph’s committed two errors in the inning and junior Lauren Didlake (Bowling Green, Va.) who came on to pinch run, crossed the plate after a throwing error.

The Hawks put a run up in the bottom half of the seventh following a Virginia error and a triple by Rochelle Christman.

Virginia concludes the weekend with a 3 p.m. game Sunday vs. Saint Joseph’s at The Park.