Virginia Shuts Out Boston College In Doubleheader Sweep

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (10-17, 6-13) used a pair of contrasting performances to sweep a doubleheader with Boston College (5-17, 1-10 ACC) at Palmer Park on Thursday (April 1). The Cavaliers shut out the Eagles 1-0 in game one before taking game two 9-0 in a run-rule victory.

The shutouts marked the first time Virginia has posted back-to-back shutouts since the 2014 season. That season, Virginia blanked Delaware State in a doubleheader.

The Cavaliers scratched out the lone run on one hit in the first game to take the 1-0 victory before pounding out eight hits, including two home runs and a triple on the way to the 9-0 win. Tori Gilbert (Mechanicsville, Va.) and Katie Goldberg (Atlanta, Ga.) each hit home runs in game two of the day to help power the Virginia offense in the second game of the day. Goldberg scored the run in game one after coming up with the only hit, a double in the fourth inning.

GAME ONE: Virginia 1, Boston College 0

Molly Grube (2-1) picked up the victory for the Cavaliers in the first game of the day. Grube (Chesterfield, Va.) worked 4.0 innings in the start scattering three hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Mikayla Houge (Collins, Iowa) then picked up the save, working the final 3.0 innings with two strikeouts.

Susannah Anderson (3-9) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing the one run on one hit with five strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Virginia took advantage of the chance it got in the first game of the doubleheader, manufacturing a run in the fourth inning with a sac fly from Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.). Goldberg reached with a leadoff double before moving to third on a sac bunt to set up the score on the Friedman fly ball to center field.

The Cavaliers then clamped down over the final three innings to pick up the shutout victory.

GAME TWO: Virginia 9, Boston College 0 (5 Innings)

Aly Rayle (2-3) picked up the win in the second game, working 4.0 innings in the start and allowing only one hit. Rayle (Herndon, Va.) struck out five batters and did not allow a walk as only two batters reached base and she faced 14 batters. Madison Harris (Forest, Va.) closed out the final inning, striking out two.

C.C. Cook (1-8) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing six runs – four of them earned – on five hits with three walks in 2.2 innings of work.

Virginia got off to the quick start, pushing home six runs in the first inning with a three-run home run from Goldberg along with an RBI single from Bailey Winscott (Clinton, Miss.) and a two-RBI triple from Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.).

The Cavaliers then added single runs in the next three innings, including the solo home run from Gilbert in the fourth to cap the day’s scoring.

NOTES ON THE DAY
• Tori Gilbert moved back into the team lead in home runs with her fifth of the season in game two.
• Katie Goldberg extended her team-leading RBI total to 15 on the year with her three-run home run.
• The six runs scored in the first inning of game two is tied for the most in an inning this season, matching a six-run sixth inning against South Alabama on the opening weekend in Athens, Ga.
• April 9, 2014 was the last time Virginia posted back-to-back shutouts when the Hoos shutout Delaware State in a doubleheader.
• Two Virginia players saw their first action of 2021 as senior Katie Haney and junior Madi Wilson each got at bats on the day. It was Haney’s first appearance as a Cavalier after transferring from Richard Bland prior to the 2019-20 academic year.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“It starts in the circle and our pitchers came out and were really aggressive. It was nice to see our staff ready to go and executing no matter who had their number called. I was particularly proud of the relievers coming in and throwing strikes and getting our team off the field. Offensively, their starter in the first game is really good and she was executing well. I was proud we stuck with it and kept after it. We got a chance and you have to generate runs however you can. It’s fun to come out and get two wins. Boston College is gritty and tough and not once did they let their energy down or quit. We know they will come back out tomorrow ready to go.”

NEXT UP FOR THE HOOS
Virginia and Boston College will continue the series with a single game on Friday at Palmer Park. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on ACCNX.