Cavaliers Walk Off With Win Over North Carolina

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Kailyn Jones doubled to left in the seventh inning to deliver a walk-off win for the Cavaliers as Virginia (25-10, 6-5 ACC) clinched the weekend series with a 1-0 win over North Carolina (13-24, 3-8 ACC) on Saturday (April 1).

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a pitcher’s duel throughout the first six innings that saw each team must three hits, the Cavaliers broke through in the seventh. Abby Weaver started things off with a single to short and took second on a throwing error on a play. Reece Holbrook entered to run for Weaver at second and Kailyn Jones stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter.

With a 2-2 count, Jones drove the ball to left past the fielder and it rolled to the wall allowing Holbrook to score and give Virginia the win.

Jenny Bressler (7-1) picked up the win as she struck out 10 batters in the complete-game shutout. She scattered three hits and walked two in the outing.

Lilli Backes (6-12) took the loss for the Tar Heels as she allowed the one run on five hits with four strikeouts through 6.1 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• Jenny Bressler’s 10 strikeouts was a season high for the right-handed pitcher.
• The Hoos locked up the series win over the Tar Heels, the first since the 2016 season.
• Virginia split a four-game series with the Tar Heels in the 2021 season.
• The Cavaliers have posted back-to-back shutouts of North Carolina in the series.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“Jenny Bressler man, when she’s out there she’s so tough. She was keeping them off balance and that was just her being tough. Things got a little tight in the sixth inning and she just executed and was so composed. We were flying out a lot and we just needed someone to put the ball on the ground. We though KJ (Kailyn Jones) could be the one to put the ball on the ground. She creates havoc and she did just that. We’re excited to go again and try to get another one tomorrow.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia and North Carolina close out the series on Sunday (April 2). First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Palmer Park. It’s Youth Day at the Park with kids getting in free with the online purchase of an adult general admission ticket at UVATix.com.