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Hoos Blank No. 11 Clemson To Take Weekend Series

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Madi Harris came out of the bullpen and threw 5.0 scoreless innings in relief as Virginia (20-10, 7-5 ACC) shut out No. 11 Clemson (22-9, 6-3 ACC) and claimed a 3-0 victory to clinch the weekend series at Palmer Park on Sunday (March 24).

The shutout of Clemson marks the first time this season a team held the Tigers off the board. It’s also Virginia’s first series win over Clemson in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored in the second with a two-out single to short from Kelly Ayer. Kelsey Hackett scored from second on the play as the slow roller allowed Ayer to beat the throw to first and Hackett was coming home with two outs on the board. Hackett reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second to get into position for the Ayer hit.

Harris then entered the game in relief of starter Courtney Layne to start the third, handcuffing the Tigers across the final five innings and allowing Virginia to maintain the 1-0 lead into the fifth.

Jade Hylton’s two-run shot in the fifth inning took the lead out to 3-0 in favor of the Hoos. Kelly Ayer scored on the play after reaching on a hot shot to first to set up the score on the Hylton shot to right field.

The lead would hold as Harris and the defense would lock things down in the seventh, retiring the side in order with an emphatic strikeout of the last batter to end the game and clinch the series.

Harris (6-1) picked up the win, her second of the weekend as she worked 5.0 scoreless innings in relief and scattered three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Millie Thompson (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing the three runs on six hits with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Only two of the three runs against Thompson were earned in the outing.

NOTES ON THE DAY

  • With the win over Clemson, the Cavaliers took the series over the Tigers for the first time in program history.
  • The Cavaliers have now won three of the first four series in ACC play with series wins over Boston College, Syracuse and No. 11 Clemson.
  • Madi Harris went 2-0 on the weekend with 9.1 shutout innings of work against the Tigers.
  • The shutout of Clemson was the first time this season a team kept the Tigers off the board.
  • Jade Hylton went 2-for-3 with the home run and two RBI to take the team lead in home runs with six to date.
  • Kelly Ayer also went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and the first RBI of the game.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“We met today to talk about throwing punches for 21 outs, having intent and being really focused. I don’t think anyone except us expected we would win a game, much less the series. I’m really proud of our belief, grit and fight. Madi Harris came up huge for the whole weekend and really kept them at bay all day today. It’s someone different every day. You never know who will get the big hit or have their big moment. That’s what makes this team special. Everyone is ready to go and hungry. There’s a deep belief in who we are and what we’re capable of being. I’m proud of the team for sticking through it and fighting through the weekend.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia returns to action with a pair of midweek games on the road, facing Liberty at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (March 26) and then playing at JMU at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (March 27).

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