Virginia Downs Longwood 5-1 In Home Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (7-4) opened up play at home with a win on Thursday (Feb. 23) as the Cavaliers opened up play at the Cavalier Classic with a 5-1 win over Longwood (4-6) at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored first, pushing a run home with a single to right from Leah Boggs that scored Gabby Baylog. Longwood would answer in the second top of the third with an unearned run as a fielding error allowed a runner to score from second.

The Cavaliers vaulted back into the lead in the home half of the third with a leadoff home run from Jade Hylton and then followed it up with a an RBI single from Baylog that scored Sarah Coon from second base. Virginia added another run in the fourth as Boggs scored on an error after going from first to third on a sac bunt by Lauren VanAssche.

Virginia capped the scoring with a solo home run from Baylog in the fifth inning.

Molly Grube (4-2) picked up the win as she allowed only the one unearned run on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

NOTES ON THE GAME
• Jade Hylton hit her second home run of the season with her solo shot in the third inning.
• Gabby Baylog also hit her second home run of the season with her solo shot in the fifth inning.
• Baylog was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored while also drawing a walk.
• Molly Grube’s eight strikeouts was a season high and one off her career high vs. LaSalle (2/22/20).
• Eden Bigham worked the final 2.0 innings allowing one hit with a walk and three strikeouts.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“It was awesome weather and fan support coming out to support us for our home opener. It was fun to see our team be who we are and be true to who we are and our personality. We were loose with a lot of smiles. We came out ready to attack. Longwood is a good team, they’re scrappy and never out of a game as was shown in the final inning. We’ll go home now and get some rest, come back out tomorrow and get back after it tomorrow night.”

UP NEXT FOR THE CAVALIERS
Virginia will return to action on Friday night (Feb. 24) when the Cavaliers face UMES at 5:30 p.m. It is the final scheduled game of the second day of the tournament. Play at the tournament overall begins at 10 a.m. with George Washington facing St. John’s.

FRIDAY PARKING UPDATE
Due to the Carrie Underwood concert at JPJ on Friday night, fans are encouraged to plan accordingly when arriving on Grounds for the game. Parking for softball fans is set for Emmett/Ivy Garage and shuttles will be providing transportation from the parking garage to the gates at Palmer Park.