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Softball
Virginia Heads to Elon for Five Games
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia softball (0-5) returns to action over the weekend (Feb. 15-17) as the Cavaliers head to the Elon Softball February Classic. The Cavaliers will take on Northern Kentucky twice, Hampton, NC Central and host Elon during the tournament.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 15 – 10 a.m. | vs. Northern Kentucky (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 15 – 12:15 p.m. | vs. Hampton (0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 16 – 12:15 p.m. | at Elon (4-1)
Sunday, Feb. 17 – 10 a.m. | vs. Northern Kentucky
Sunday, Feb. 17 – 12:15 p.m. | vs. NC Central (1-3)
GAME COVERAGE
Fans can follow the action with live stats for all five games. Links to live stats are available at VirginiaSports.com. There is no streaming for any of the games this weekend.
HOO TO WATCH
• Senior Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) was electric both in the circle and at the plate to open 2019.
• After a tough junior campaign in the circle, Osherow was stellar in three starts on opening weekend, working 16 innings with a 1.75 ERA.
• Opponents hit just .175 off Osherow and she fanned 13 batters while issuing just four walks.
• At the plate, the veteran hit .375 with a double, triple and home run. She added four RBI to tie for the team lead.
ROOKIE DEBUTS
• Eight freshmen made their collegiate debuts for the Cavaliers on opening weekend.
• Shortstop Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) leads Virginia with a .400 batting average.
• Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.) made four starts and hit .357 with a pair of doubles and two RBI on opening weekend.
• In the circle, Clare Zureich (Cary, N.C.) and Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) both made their collegiate debuts.
• Outfielder Bailey Winscott (Clinton, Miss.) and infielder Abigail Barber (Providence Forge, Va.) both picked up their first collegiate hits.
MOLLY ON THE RUN
• Sophomore Molly Keshin (New Canaan, Conn.) was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases on opening weekend. The total puts her halfway to eclipsing last year’s high of 10 for a Virginia player (Allison Davis).
• The five steals already eclipse Keshin’s total of four from the 2018 campaign. No Virginia player has surpassed more than 15 stolen bases since Giannina Cippolloni swiped 31 in 2012.
• Keshin’s five swipes came in just four games, making her the ACC leader and seventh nationally in stolen bases per game.
THE FOES
• Virginia and Northern Kentucky will meet for the first time ever this weekend. Friday’s game is the season opener for the Norse.
• The Cavaliers are 3-2 all-time against Hampton after the Pirates swept a doubleheader last season.
• Virginia owns a 10-3 lead in the all-time series with Elon. The Phoenix are 4-1 to open 2019.
• The series between Virginia and NC Central is tied 1-1.