Virginia Closes Homestand With No. 11 Clemson

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (18-9, 5-4 ACC) closes its seven-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series against No. 11 Clemson (21-7, 5-1 ACC) at Palmer Park.

Friday’s series opener has a new start time of 5 p.m. due to expected inclement weather in the area.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Friday and Saturday’s games will be broadcast on ACC Network, while Sunday’s finale is set to stream on ACCNX. All three games can also be watched on the ESPN app or at WatchESPN.com. Live stats are available and links to the stats and broadcasts are at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official account (@UVASoftball) on X.

QUICK HITS

• The Hoos close out a seven-game homestand when the Cavaliers take on Clemson before heading back out on the road for seven-game stretch of contests.
• Pitching and defense have carried the Hoos with UVA rankings fourth in the ACC in both ERA (2.04) and fielding percentage (.974) heading into the weekend.
• The 2.04 ERA ranks 23rd nationally, while the .974 fielding percentage is top 30 nationally.
• The Virginia pitching staff ranks fifth in the ACC in total shutouts (6) and 42nd nationally.
• Eden Bigham leads the ACC in fewest hits per 7.0 IP (2.85) and ranks fourth nationally. She’s second in the ACC in shutouts and tied for the league lead with her 100 strikeouts.
• The Hoos have also been aggressive when on the basepath, ranking fourth in the ACC in total stolen bases (42) and stolen bases per game (156).
• Jade Hylton leads the way with nine steals this season, while Kelly Ayer is 8-for-8 in steal attempts and Kamyria Woody-Giggetts is 7-for-7 on the year.
• Hylton paces the offense at the top of the order, hitting at a .345 clip with a team-leading 17 RBI and is tied with Sarah Coon for the team lead in home runs with five.
• Leah Boggs has been hot in ACC play, hitting at a .348 clip and has gone 3-for-3 in steal attempts through the first three series of the season.
• Kelsey Hackett has seen the ball well, hitting at a .368 clip as she has found her way into the starting lineup in recent games. She drove in the first run for UVA in the Rutgers win.

THE SERIES WITH CLEMSON

• Virginia and Clemson have faced each other 10 times with the Tigers having won all 10 meetings
• The teams met in Clemson last season with the Tigers claiming wins by scores of 4-1, 1-0 and 2-0
• This is the first meeting in Charlottesville since the 2021 season in which the teams played a four-game set
• It is only the second trip to Palmer Park for the Tigers

PROMOTIONS AT PALMER

• Friday continues FryDays at Palmer Park with discounted chicken tender baskets at the concession stand.
• Free koozies will also be given away at Friday’s game while supplies last.
• Saturday is Youth Day at Palmer Park with inflatables and kids running the bases after the game. Youth under 18 are admitted free with the purchase of an adult general admission ticket.
• Sunday’s game will be a Palmer Paradise with orange Hawaiian shirts given away to the first 250 fans.