Virginia Softball Goes 4-0 at Palmer Park Clash

The Cavaliers defeated DePaul, Fairfield, St. Francis, and George Mason this weekend at Palmer Park

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

For the second weekend in a row, the Virginia softball team went undefeated in a home tournament at Palmer Park. UVA hosted the Palmer Park Clash this weekend and picked up four more victories, defeating DePaul, Fairfield, St. Francis, and George Mason. 

DePaul 1, Virginia 9 (6 innings)

Jenny Bressler put on a show in the pitcher's circle, holding DePaul to just one run on six hits though six innings of work and striking out seven batters in the process. Virginia scored one run in each of the first, second, and third innings. DePaul got on the board in the top of the fourth, but UVA scored one run in the fifth on a Jade Hylton solo homer and then piled on with five more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kailyn Jones and Leah Boggs hit back-to-back doubles and then both came around to score on an error. Hylton hit an RBI double and then Kelly Ayer scored on another error, triggering the run rule as the Cavaliers won 9-1. 

Fairfield 1, Virginia 16 (5 innings)

The Virginia bats stayed hot in the second game on Saturday, scoring 12 runs in just the first two innings. Katie Goldberg hit a two-run single, Kailyn Jones hit an RBI single, and then Jones and Goldberg scored on an error to make it 5-0 after one inning. In the bottom of the second, Hylton hit an RBI triple and Virginia scored two more runs on an error. Jones came up with the bases loaded and delivered a bases-clearing double before scoring on yet another Fairfield error. Virginia added two runs on RBI singles from Sydney Hartgrove and Kelsey Hackett in the bottom of the third and another two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Fairfield got on the board in the top of the fourth with a run, but it wasn't enough to avoid the five-inning run-rule, as the Cavaliers won 16-1. Molly Grube, Courtney Layne, and Madison Harris combined to hold Fairfield to one run on just three hits. 

St. Francis 2, Virginia 5

The UVA bats weren't nearly as productive on Sunday, but the Cavalier pitchers picked up the slack. Molly Grube got the start and the win, pitching 5.2 innings and giving up only two earned runs on four hits. After a scoreless first and second inning, Lauren VanAssche got on board with a leadoff double, stole third base, and then scored on a wild pitch to get UVA on the board. The lead remained at 1-0 into the fifth inning, when Virginia finally added some crucial insurance. Jade Hylton delivered a big-time two-run home run and Kailyn Jones hit a two-run triple to make it 5-0. Those runs ended up being critical as St. Francis scored two runs in the sixth inning. Jenny Bressler entered the game in the sixth inning and earned the save, giving up just one hit as she recorded the final four outs to secure the 5-2 win. 

George Mason 1, Virginia 2

In the final game of the weekend, the Cavaliers faced some serious adversity as George Mason took them down to the wire. The Patriots struck first in the top of the second, hitting three-consecutive singles with two outs to take a 1-0 lead. Virginia was held scoreless into the fourth inning, as the Hoos finally got on the board with a Katie Goldberg single that scored Sarah Coon. Virginia then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Jade Hylton came up with a clutch base hit to left center that scored Kelly Ayer, giving UVA a 2-1 lead. Eden Bigham started and went 6.1 innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits and recording ten strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, though, Bigham surrendered a single and a walk to put two runners on with one out, giving the Patriots a chance to tie the game and potentially take the lead. Jenny Bressler entered the game and struck out the first batter she faced to get to two outs, but then walked the next batter to load the bases. With the tying run suddenly on third base, Virginia catcher Leah Boggs made the game-winning play, firing the ball down to first base to pick off the baserunner for the final out of the game, clinching the 2-1 victory for the Cavaliers. 

Boggs to Baylog for the pick off to end it!! Hoos take down George Mason 2-1! pic.twitter.com/CTkYffm4gC

— Virginia Softball (@UVASoftball) March 6, 2023

Virginia is on an 11-game winning streak after successfully protecting home field over this 11-game homestand over the last couple of weeks. Now 17-4 overall, UVA plays at Liberty on Tuesday at 6pm before returning home to begin ACC play with a three-game series against Georgia Tech next weekend. 

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