UVA Softball Bounces Back With Doubleheader Sweep Against Hofstra

After losing three games by a combined six runs in a highly-competitive series at No. 4 Clemson over the weekend, the Virginia softball team bounced back by sweeping a doubleheader against Hofstra on Tuesday at Palmer Park. 

Game 1: Hofstra 0, Virginia 2

Eden Bigham was the star of the show in game 1, as the true freshman allowed just two total baserunners in a complete-game shutout. In seven innings, Bigham allowed just one hit and one walk and recorded nine strikeouts. The complete-game was her fifth of the season and Bigham leads the team with 79 strikeouts on the year. 

It was a good thing that Bigham had her A-Game because she got very little support from the UVA bats. Sarah Coon hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the first and Virginia added a second run in the fourth as Abby Weaver doubled, advanced to third on a Leah Boggs bunt, and came home on a sacrifice squeeze by Gabby Baylog. That was all the runs Virginia could muster, though, as the Cavaliers were held to just two runs on five hits. That was enough for Eden Bigham, who improved to 6-3 on the season with the win. 

Game 2: Hofstra 1, Virginia 4

UVA got another strong pitching performance in the second game of the doubleheader, as Jenny Bressler started and pitched 5.2 innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits and striking out a season-high eight batters as she picked up her sixth victory of the season. Savanah Henley pitched the final 1.1 innings and struck out two batters to secure the win. 

Virginia jumped on the board in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Katie Goldberg, but Hofstra would tie things up in the top of the third on an RBI double by Angelina Ioppolo. UVA answered back right away in the bottom half of the third, as Sarah Coon and Katie Goldberg singled and Tori Gilbert drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Gabby Baylog grounded out to score Goldberg and then Lauren VanAssche tried to execute a bunt, but Hofstra managed to get Gilbert out at home. The umps discussed the play and then determined that the Hofstra catcher obstructed home plate, reversing the call on the field and awarding Virginia the run. Abby Weaver then came around to score as VanAssche managed to play keep away in a rundown between first and second long enough for Weaver to get home to make it 4-1, which held as the final score. 

Virginia improves to 20-10 on the season and will be back on the road for another ACC series this weekend at Pittsburgh. 

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