Softball Hosts Virginia Tech in Home-Opening Weekend

March 2, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (8-8) will play its home opener at The Park on Friday at 5:00 p.m. against Virginia Tech (8-5) as part of a three-game, weekend series. The rivalry game marks the beginning of Atlantic Coast Conference play for both schools.

Friday and Sunday’s contests will air on ACC Network Extra, which is available to authenticated subscribers of ESPN3 through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Live statistics for all three games are available on VirginiaSports.com

The Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529 is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash encourages a friendly, statewide rivalry between the two schools across all school-sponsored sports with 22 individual event points on the line. The school that accumulates 11.5 points or more will be crowned the winner and take home the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash trophy. Visit www.TheCommonwealthClash.com for more information and updated standings.

At the conclusion of Sunday’s game and every Sunday home game throughout the season, kids in attendance can run the bases. In addition, members of the team will stick around for a postgame autograph session. Admission to all softball games at The Park is free.

Although Virginia and Virginia Tech both participated in the ECU Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C. last weekend, the two teams did not square off. Friday’s game will mark the 57^th meeting between the two programs in which the Hokies own a 35-21 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1998.

The Cavaliers closed out a 16-game stint away from Charlottesville with wins over host-ECU last Saturday night and Coppin State on Sunday afternoon. Virginia’s eight wins before March 1 are the most since 2012. In home openers since 2000, the Cavaliers own a 10-7 record at the Park.

First year Head Coach Joanna Hardin’s club currently leads the ACC in home runs (21), triples (7) and total bases (222). The Cavaliers, as a team, rank in the top three in slugging percentage (2^nd – .514), runs (2^nd – 82), hits (3^rd – 121) and RBIs (3^rd – 69).

Individually at the plate, junior Allison Davis leads the team with a .393 batting average (22-for-56). Amongst her conference cohorts, she ranks second in the ACC in hits, second in total bases (41) and fourth in slugging percentage (.732).

Five of the current Cavalier regulars are batting over a .333 clip including senior Katie Park who has appeared in all but one game this season. She sports a .393 batting average and is second on the team with 19 hits. Last weekend in Greenville, she went 7-for-16 (.438) and collected her second triple of the season.

Following the three-game set with the Hokies, the Cavaliers will travel to Radford on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader.