Hoos Split Doubleheader At No. 4 Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Virginia softball team (28-15, 8-9 ACC) split a doubleheader with No. 4 Florida State (35-8, 13-2 ACC) on Saturday to close out the weekend series with the Seminoles. Virginia won game one of the doubleheader 6-5 before falling 8-0 in the finale.

GAME 1 – Virginia 6, No. 4 Florida State 5
Virginia struck first with a three-run second inning. The Hoos pushed runs home with an RBI single from Kelly Ayer to short and a sacrifice fly to center from Shelby Barbee. Virginia would then load the bases before Gabby Baylog was hit by a pitch to bring the third run home before FSU would get out of the inning.

The Cavaliers added to the lead in the fifth with an RBI single to left from Barbee, driving in Kailyn Jones from second.

FSU threatened with a bases-loaded situation with two outs in the fifth and Jahni Kerr at the plate. Kerr hit one deep to center, but Lauren VanAssche tracked it and made the catch at the wall to end the inning.

Virginia added a pair of runs in the sixth with a bases-loaded wild pitch that scored Jade Hylton before an RBI single down the third base line from Abby Weaver brought Kelsey Hackett home for the 6-0 lead.

Florida State got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run. Virginia made a pitching change, and the Seminoles got a two-RBI double from Kalei Harding. Jahni Kerr then drove in a run to make it 6-5 in favor of the Hoos and Virginia again turned to its bullpen. Savanah Henley got a strikeout to end the sixth and the Hoos held on in the seventh to secure the win.

Eden Bigham (12-4) picked up the victory, allowing three runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. She worked 5.1 innings and left the game with the Hoos leading 6-2, a runner on and one out. Savanah Henley picked up her second save of the year as she worked the final 1.1 innings and allowed two hits and struck out one.

Ali DuBois (4-3) took the loss as she allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work. She was the first of four Florida State pitchers to see time in the circle.

GAME 2 – No. 4 Florida State 8, Virginia 0 (6 Innings)
Florida State scored first in the second game of the day, driving home two runs with a bases-loaded single in the fourth inning. An error on the fielding attempt in center allowed runners to advance and left two in scoring position as Virginia called on Jenny Bressler out of the bullpen.

A walk and a two RBI double to left brought three more runs home and gave the Seminoles the 5-0 lead before a sac fly brought home a final run in the inning. Florida State would add two more in the sixth to take the victory.

Molly Grube (7-7) took the loss as she allowed four runs on three hits with a walk in her 3.1 innings of work. She was one of three pitchers used in the outing.

Katheryn Sandercock (15-3) picked up the win, allowing three hits and striking out four through her 5.0 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE DAY

• The win in game one was the first since an 11-9 win in game one of the 2014 series in Charlottesville (3/8/14)
• The six runs scored in game one on Saturday is the most vs. FSU since the 11-9 win in 2014.
• The win is the first for Virginia in Tallahassee since a 2-1 win in game two of the 2011 series (4/9/11).
• UVA stole three bases in game one to hit 91 steals on the year – tied for fifth all-time at UVA with the 1999 team.
• Virginia scored first in game one of the doubleheader and is now 26-5 this season when scoring first.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“It was a long day and really tough on both sides. I like the fight and the grittiness of our pitching staff. They really hung in there. Some of the scores aren’t quite indicative of the game. The first game of the day had a lot of fans, cheering and pressure; we handled that really well. We’ve challenged ourselves to close the door and win games when in high-pressure situations with high stakes. We did a great job of that. The second game was a tough way to finish things out, but we’ll rest up tomorrow and get home to prepare for a busy week ahead.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia returns to action at home on Tuesday with a single game against JMU at 6 p.m. The Cavaliers will then continue play at home with a three-game series against Louisville over the weekend.