Virginia Blanks Rutgers For Midweek Win

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cavaliers got RBIs from Kelsey Hackett and Abby Weaver and the pitching staff locked down the Scarlet Knight offense as Virginia (18-9) defeated Rutgers (18-12) by a score of 2-0 on Tuesday (March 19) at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored in the fourth inning with an RBI double to the wall in left from Kelsey Hackett that scored Macee Eaton. With a full count, Hackett pulled it to left and over the head of the fielder to bring Eaton home from first. Eaton reached on a walk in the previous at bat.

The Cavaliers doubled the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI groundout to second from Abby Weaver with runners at the corners. Leah Boggs scored on the play after opening the frame with a double. She then advanced safely to third on a fielder’s choice, sliding in around the tag to set up the score on the Weaver at bat.

Eden Bigham (7-5) picked up the win, working 5.0 scoreless relief innings with three walks and six strikeouts. She did not allow a hit in her time in the circle.

Mattie Boyd (10-6) took the loss, allowing the two runs on four hits with six walks and five strikeouts.

NOTES ON THE DAY

• Virginia pulled within one of evening the all-time series with the win as Rutgers leads 8-7.
• Courtney Layne started the game, working 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and three hits allowed.
• Leah Boggs continued to produce at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored.
• Kelsey Hackett was 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI as she drove in the first run of the game.
• With her six strikeouts, Eden Bigham now has 100 strikeouts on the season.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“I liked our composure on the field today. We got ourselves into a couple of jams and we stayed unfazed and competitive and kept grinding the next pitch. Kelsey Hackett came up with a big RBI double that started the scoring off and Abby Weaver delivered a really selfless at bat for the insurance run that was huge. We’ve been scratching and clawing and trying to keep our processes really clear. We strung together some quality at bats and need to carry that over into the weekend. Overall the pitching staff has been keeping us in games and we’re all growing and getting better. Rutgers is a good team and Boyd is a good pitcher, so that was a good one for us to come away with heading into the weekend.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia continues to play at home this weekend, jumping back into ACC play with a three-game series against No. 11 Clemson. Game one is set for 6 p.m. at Palmer Park on Friday (March 22). Game two is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday and the finale is set for noon on Sunday.