Virginia Topples Pitt in ACC Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time since 2012, Virginia softball (9-9, 1-0 ACC) captured its Atlantic Coast Conference opener by defeating Pittsburgh (3-16, 0-1 ACC) 7-4 on Saturday (March 9) at The Park.
 
Freshmen shined in the victory, with Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) earning the win in the circle while Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.) and Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) both produced two-RBI hits in a five-run fifth inning.

KEY INNING
After Pitt tied the game in the top half of the fifth inning and had two aboard with no outs, Rayle (4-1) came out of the bullpen to shut down the Panthers and keep the game tied at 2-2.
 
Virginia rewarded her with a five-run bottom half to take a 7-2 lead. Friedman won an 11-pitch at-bat with two outs, doubling home a pair of runs. Ritchie followed with a two-run triple and Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) capped the big inning with an RBI-single.
 
TOUCHING HOME
• Pitt opened the scoring in the first inning, using a walk and an error to score an unearned run.
• Virginia responded immediately, using a double from Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) and sacrifice fly from Friedman to pull level at 1-1.
• Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) put Virginia in front in the bottom of the fourth, launching the first pitch of the inning deep to left center for her third home run of the season.
• Pitt re-tied the game in the fifth as Connor McGaffic doubled past a diving effort in left to score a run.
• Virginia’s five-run fifth came on four hits. All five runs were scored with two outs.
• Pitt capitalized on a fielder’s choice and error to score a pair of runs in the seventh for the 7-4 final.

ON THE LINES
• Graduate student Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) made the start in the circle and worked a total of 4 2/3 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits. She returned to record the final two outs of the game and earn the save.
• Smith and Gott both had 2-for-4 days at the plate for the Cavaliers.
• Friedman recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season with three runs driven in.
• Ritchie’s triple was the first of her career and fourth of the year for Virginia.
• Rayle worked 2 1/3 innings in relief to earn the victory. She allowed one earned run.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia and Pitt conclude the series on Sunday (March 10) with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at The Park.