Bigham, Hylton Named First Team All-Region

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sophomores Eden Bigham and Jade Hylton were named All-Region first team selections by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) it was announced by the organization on Saturday afternoon (May 18).

Bigham earns All-Region first team honors for the second straight season. Hylton is also a two-time All-Region selection after being named a third team selection a year ago.

Bigham led the ACC in strikeouts during the regular season and holds 173 strikeouts on the season after her complete-game shutout of No. 24 Miami  (OH) on Friday in NCAA Regional play. In that game, she struck out 10 batters to mark the fourth time this season she’s struck out at least 10 batters and talied her fifth shutout of the season. It was her eighth complete-game of the year. Bigham holds a 15-7 record on the season and a 2.35 ERA through 140.0 innings of work. She was an All-ACC first team honoree.

Hylton leads the Cavaliers in most offensive categories and is hitting at a .348 clip on the season. She tallied her team-leading 13th home run of the year on Friday in a win over No. 24 Miami (OH) to open NCAA Regional competition. In that game she went 3-for-4 with two runs scored an three RBI to bring her season total to 40 RBI and 35 runs scored.

The duo helped the Cavaliers to the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament berth and first since the 2010 season. Virginia won 7-of-8 series in ACC play and finished fourth in the league standings, the highest finish since a second-place finish in 2010.

Virginia will return to the field tonight in an elimination game at the NCAA Knoxville Regional. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. against either No. 24 Miami (OH) or Dayton.