Virginia Drops Two in Judi Garman Classic

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FULLERTON, Calif. – The Virginia softball team (16-6) dropped two games on the first day of the Judi Garman Classic Thursday in Fullerton, Calif. The Cavaliers fell to UC Davis 11-5 in game one and to Fresno State 1-0 in game two.

In the first game of the day, Virginia was outhit 14-7 by the Aggies, who put up five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away from the Cavaliers. Senior Giannina Cipolloni (Philadelphia, Pa.) was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and classmate Kennedy Byxbee (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) was 2-for-2.

Freshman pitcher Rachel Gillen (Wilmington, Del.) threw the first 2.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Senior Stephanie Coates (Gloucester, Va.), who took the loss, came on and tossed the final 3.1 innings and gave up six earned runs on seven hits.

Jessica Thweatt earned the win for UC Davis (3-7), allowing five runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts.

In game two, Fresno State scored in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Vonnie Martin to lead off the inning and earn a 1-0 victory over the Cavaliers. The Bulldogs also outhit UVa, 5-4.

Cipolloni, junior Taylor Williams (Woodbridge, Va.), junior Alex Skinkis (La Palma, Calif.) and freshman Heidi Velk (Murrieta, Calif.) all singled for the Cavaliers in the contest.

Junior pitcher Mitchell Melanie Mitchell suffered the loss in the circle. She had a solid outing with six strikeouts and no walks with just one run allowed.

Michelle Moses tallied 11 strikeouts in the winning effort for Fresno State (19-9).

Virginia continues play at the Judi Garman Classic with two more games Friday. The Cavaliers will face Iowa at 9 a.m. Pacific (12 p.m. Eastern) before a game with No. 7 Oklahoma at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. Eastern).