Cavalier Bats Come Alive in Finale, Virginia Softball Wins Series Over Syracuse

After scoring one run in the first game and two in the second, the Cavaliers scored seven runs to clinch their second ACC series victory

Scoring runs has been a struggle for Virginia softball, who entered this series on a three-game losing streak and also a three-game streak of only scoring one run. While the series started out slow offensively, the Cavaliers had some big innings later in the weekend against Syracuse that helped secure the series victory. 

Friday 3/15 - Syracuse 6, Virginia 1

Syracuse got on the board first in game one, with a single and a walk putting runners on, and then a fielding error allowing two runs to score. Jade Hylton had a leadoff double for the Hoos in the bottom of the first before the game went into a rain delay. Bella Cabral hit another double two hours later to score Hylton, but then Virginia only had one more hit for the rest of the game.

Both Eden Bigham and Syracuse’s Madison Knight pitched scoreless innings from the second to the sixth. In the top of the sixth, Bigham gave up a big inning with a solo home run, a bases loaded hit by pitch, and a two-run single when Mikayla Houge subbed in to pitch and gave up a bases loaded hit.

Virginia hadn’t come close to evening up the score when the team was down by one run, and there was no clear threat when the Hoos were losing by five runs. Eden Bigham got the loss as Virginia dropped its fourth-straight game.

Saturday 3/16 - Virginia 2, Syracuse 1

Leah Boggs was the hero in game two, as her two-run homer was the difference in the game for the Cavaliers. Julia Cuozzo and Courtney Layne combined to only allow two hits all game, with Cuozzo getting the win on four innings pitched and Layne earning the save.

LEAH. BOGGS.
Hoos on top!

Watch on ACCNX#GoHoos | #OnTheRise | #HoosNext pic.twitter.com/xHMtGqXgzF

— Virginia Softball (@UVASoftball) March 16, 2024

Virginia has been struggling to score runs in recent games, but the long ball is one way to not worry about getting the clutch hit when runners are in scoring position. After UVA took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Syracuse cut the lead in half with a sac fly in the top of the third.

While Virginia wasn’t able to score any more runs despite having runners in scoring position, Courtney Layne made sure the Orange didn’t score either. The win was an exciting and important one to rebuild the momentum after the losing streak, and it set up the rubber match with Syracuse.

Sunday 3/17 - Virginia 7, Syracuse 2

The offense came out strong in game three, as the Hoos scored seven runs in two innings to take a big lead. In the first, Jade Hylton hit a leadoff double for her third game in a row, and a few batters later, Sarah Coon hit an RBI single. The Syracuse pitcher walked two batters and hit one which allowed the second run to score.

After Mikayla Houge pitched a scoreless second inning, Virginia put together a five run inning. Kamyria Woody-Giggetts led things off by getting hit by a pitch, and then Jade Hylton hit her second double of the afternoon. Abby Weaver came up with a clutch two-run single to double Virginia’s lead. With two outs, Kelsey Hackett had a two-run double and Shelby Barbee hit an RBI single, giving Virginia a 7-0 lead.

Syracuse had a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to cut into the lead, but the UVA pitching staff had plenty of run support to work with in contrast to recent games. Mikayla Houge pitched four innings of two-run ball in the win, and Eden Bigham had six strikeouts in three innings and earned a save.

At the plate, Jade Hylton went 4 for 9 at the plate with three doubles and three runs scored in the series.

Virginia’s record is now 17-9 overall and 5-4 in the ACC. The Hoos will face Rutgers on Tuesday at 4pm at Palmer Park before hosting No. 14 Clemson over the weekend. 

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