Softball Preps for Midweek Home-and-Home

April 10, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (14-26) is back in action on Tuesday night for a road, midweek game against Liberty (26-16) at 6 p.m. The Flames will be at The Park on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. to kick-off a five-game home stand for the Cavaliers.

Game Coverage: Tuesday night’s single game at Liberty will be carried live on Flames TV with Alan York and Paul Wetmore on the call. Both games will have live stat links available on VirginiaSports.com

Leading Off

• Tuesday will be the 65^th meeting between Liberty and Virginia (39^th since LU turned D-1).
• Despite meeting each year for the last eight years, this will mark the first midweek home and home series.
• Virginia has won nine of the last 11 against Liberty, including doubleheader splits the last two seasons.
• Liberty comes into Tuesday winners of its last seven games, outscoring opponents 51-5 in that span.
• As a team, the Cavaliers rank second in the ACC in doubles (62) and triples (9).
• 20 of the Cavaliers 35 home runs (57 percent) this season have come in the fifth inning or later.
• Virginia is 11-14 in non-conference play.

Game Notes
Fresh Start: With a bye in its ACC schedule this past weekend, Virginia comes into the series against Liberty on five days rest, its longest gap without a game since early March.

Home Run Tear: In four games last week, the Cavaliers added three more home runs to their season total. Virginia currently ranks fifth in the ACC with 35 home runs and gone deep in six of the last seven games. Five different Cavaliers have hit five or more homers in 2017.

Century Mark: Senior Madison Labshere recorded her 100^th career hit with a single in game two of a doubleheader against George Mason last Tuesday (April 5). She is one of six players in the Virginia lineup to have reached 100 career hits.

Immediate Impact: Senior McKall Miller made her return to the Cavalier lineup last week, seeing her first action since March 10. In four games she is 4-for-10 (.400) with a home run and two RBIs. Despite missing 14 games, she remains tied for the team lead with eight doubles.

Going the Distance: Virginia’s two wins last week hinged largely on the pitching efforts of sophomore Erika Osherow who has now thrown three-straight complete games. In her last three starts she is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA. She has logged 20 innings and struck out five batters in that stretch.

Coaching Roots: Virginia Head Coach Joanna Hardin began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Liberty under Paul Wetmore from 2007-2009. While on staff, Hardin helped the Flames reach two Big South Conference Tournament Championship games and earned her Master’s degree during her tenure in Lynchburg.

Up Next: Virginia will host Georgia Tech for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at The Park.