Softball Continues Fall Ball, Hosts George Mason Sunday

Oct. 7, 2016

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball program continues its fall scrimmages and practice this weekend, hosting George Mason in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at The Park on Sunday. The games, originially schedule for Saturday, were moved due to inclement weather in the area.

Admission is free to fans wanting to see the squad in action under first-year head coach Joanna Hardin.

“We love to compete and it’s always fun when we can see all of the work and time invested in practice on the field,” Hardin said. “It’s an opportunity to gauge our improvement and understanding. It’s a chance to see what we need to work on and our strengths and weaknesses. The fall season is really about seeing where we need to improve and what we need to focus on as we prepare for the spring.

“We’re going to mix things up a lot and see where people fit when it comes to positions and where people fit in the bigger picture. It’s also an opportunity to have fun.”

The Cavaliers return 12 letterwinners from last year’s squad, including All-ACC selection Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) and VaSID All-State selections Davis and Danni Ingraham (Laguna Nigel, Calif.).

Seven of the top hitters from last season also return for the Cavaliers after accounting for 36 of the squad’s 48 home runs and 153 of 197 RBI. Those seven players also accounted for 135 of 218 runs scored. Among those players is the team’s RBI leader in catcher Katie Park (Scottsdale, Ariz.), the leader in runs scored and steals, Iyana Hughes (Manteca, Calif.) and the three top power hitters in Ingraham, Park and Madison Labshere (El Cajon, Calif.).

Added to the squad are four newcomers in Meghan Bradshaw (), Ashlee Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.), Bailey Vaughn (Lewisville, Texas) and Janelle Zellars (Forest, Va.).