Virginia Takes 10-2 Victory Over JMU

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A hot start powered the Cavaliers on Tuesday (April 18) as Virginia (29-15) hit a pair of home runs on the way to a 10-2 run-rule victory over JMU (23-14) at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After two Virginia opened the scoring with an RBI single through the left side from Katie Goldberg before Abby Weaver followed it up with a three-run home run to push the Hoos out to the 4-0 lead. Virginia capped the inning with an RBI single from Lauren VanAssche before the Dukes would get out of the frame.

Tori Gilbert hit a two-run shot in the second inning to extend the Virginia lead to 7-0.

JMU got on the board in the fifth with back-to-back doubles to start the inning, but Virginia answered in the home half with an RBI single to left from Sydney Hartgrove that scored Shelby Barbee who reached on a walk.

The Dukes added a second run in the sixth with a bases-loaded fielder’s choice before the Hoos would get out of the inning. The Cavaliers then locked up the victory in the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of errors to bring two runs home for the run-rule victory.

Eden Bigham (12-4) picked up the victory as she allowed one run on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts through her 5.0 innings of work.

Lexi Rogers (2-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in 1.0 inning of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• With the win, UVA leads the all-time series with JMU 26-25 and has won back-to-back games over the Dukes.
• Tori Gilbert is now tied for second all-time in home runs at UVA with 33 for her career. She pulls even with Danni Ingraham (2015-18) for the second spot on the list.
• With the win, the Hoos surpass last season’s win total and the 29 wins is the most since the 2010 team posted 34 wins on the way to an NCAA Regional appearance.
• Virginia’s three stolen bases brings the season total to 94 steals and is two shy of tying the 2001 team for fourth all-time in a season.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“We were super gritty after the crazy travel situation over the weekend. The team handled uncontrollable factors like champs. I’m proud of them coming out and competing with a pretty limited scout. It was awesome to see that and see some players get in for some game action. We know it’s going to be a competitive weekend with Louisville coming to town and it being senior weekend. We know there will be a lot of emotion, and this was a great way to go into the weekend knowing we have a lot on the line.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia continues to play at home with a three-game series against Louisville. First pitch in Friday’s series opener is set for 6 p.m. at Palmer Park to kick off a weekend of celebration as the Hoos will host Season-Ticket Holder Appreciation night on Friday, Alumni Day on Saturday and Senior Day on Sunday.