Virginia Posts Run-Rule Wins Over DePaul, Fairfield

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (15-4) posted a pair of run-rule victories at Palmer Park on Saturday (March 4). The Cavaliers defeated DePaul (7-8) by a score of 9-1 in six innings and Fairfield (3-4) by a score of 16-1 in five innings.

GAME 1 – Virginia 9, DePaul 1 (6 Innings)
Virginia scored in the first when MC Eaton delivered a groundball to short that brought home Kelly Ayer from third. The lead doubled in the second inning with an RBI double off the wall from Lauren VanAssche.

A home run from Abby Weaver in the third pushed a run across for the third consecutive inning before DePaul would answer with a solo shot in the top of the fourth. Jade Hylton then drove one over the wall in left center as her solo home run made it a 4-1 lead.

A throwing error in the sixth allowed two more Virginia runs to score. Kailyn Jones got hung up in a rundown to allow runners to advance following a groundball to the pitcher from VanAssche, but a throwing error allowed her and Leah Boggs to score. A double from Hylton pushed a third run home before two more would score on a ground ball and a throwing error to give the Cavaliers the run-rule victory.

Jenny Bressler (5-1) picked up the win as she allowed the one run on six hits. She did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

Brenna Smith (2-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits through 4.1 innings of work. She walked four and did not strike out a batter.

GAME 2 – Virginia 16, Fairfield 1 (5 Innings)
Virginia struck quickly against the Stags, pushing five runs home in the first inning. The Cavaliers then continued to add runs to the board in the second by capitalizing on miscues while peppering the ball around the park for a seven-run inning.

Two more runs came across in the third inning on RBI singles from Sydney Hartgrove and Kelsey Hackett before Fairfield would capitalize on an error in the fourth to get on the board. The Cavaliers would drive two across in the fourth to answer and take the lead out to 16-1 and grab the run-rule victory.

Molly Grube (6-2) picked up the victory as she worked 3.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

Allie Bridgman (1-1) took the loss as she allowed seven runs – five of them earned – on five hits with three walks in 1.0 inning of work.

NOTES ON THE DAY

• Jade Hylton took over the team lead in home runs with her sixth of the season against DePaul.
• The run-rule victories made it seven in the last eight games for the Hoos.
• Abby Weaver’s home run against DePaul was her second home run of the season.
• The 16 runs against Fairfield matches the season high of 16 runs scored against George Washington (2/26).

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia returns to action on Sunday with two games in the Palmer Park Clash. The Cavaliers will face Saint Francis at 3 p.m. before closing the weekend against George Mason at 5:30 p.m.