Virginia Splits Series With NC State

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (8-15, 4-13 ACC) fell in the series finale with NC State (14-8, 10-8 ACC) by a score of 5-0 at Palmer Park on Monday (March 22). The teams split the four-game weekend series as the Cavaliers won games one and three of the weekend.

Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) took the loss in her second start of the weekend, allowing four runs – three of them earned – on two hits. Rayle (1-2) walked two and struck out two in her 2.2 innings of work.

Estelle Czech (1-1) picked up the win in her second straight outing, allowing one hit with a walk in her 5.0 innings of work.

NC State struck first for the first time on the weekend, taking advantage of a Virginia miscue defensively to push home a run in the inning. The Wolfpack then added three more runs in the third with an RBI triple and a two-run home run.

The Wolfpack added a fifth run in the fifth inning for the final margin of victory.

NOTES ON THE GAME
• Gabby Baylog made her first appearance as a Cavalier and got a hit with a single up the middle in the fifth inning.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“Obviously, it’s disappointing to finish the weekend the way we did, but we are continuing to learn and grow as a team. We did not execute well enough in the circle or offensively to win today. From here, we need to look deeply within and challenge ourselves to continue growing and grinding through every game. The ACC schedule this season is tough, but the toughest teams will continue to fight through the fatigue and develop the mental fortitude to finish games and finish weekends strong. I believe that we are capable of playing much better than we played today and we have a great opportunity Wednesday to turn the page against a very good Virginia Tech team.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will return to action on Wednesday when the Cavaliers travel to face Virginia Tech in a non-conference matchup at 4 p.m. The single game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.