Cavaliers Now

Virginia Softball Uses Strong Start to Run-Rule JMU 10-2

The Cavaliers scored seven runs in the first two innings and rolled to a six-inning victory over the Dukes on Tuesday night

Matt Newton

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

It would be difficult to script a better start to a game than what the Cavaliers got against the Dukes on Tuesday. Virginia hit two home runs and put up seven runs on the board in the first two innings and used that strong start to cruise to a six-inning 10-2 victory over JMU on Tuesday night at Palmer Park. 

The Cavaliers gave JMU starter Lexi Rogers no time at all to settle in as they put immediate pressure on her in the bottom of the first inning. Jade Hylton poked the first pitch she faced into left field for a leadoff single, advanced to second on a grounder, and came home on an RBI single from Katie Goldberg. With two runners still on base, Abby Weaver drove a ball over the fence in left-center field for a three-run homer, her fourth home run of the season. 

Virginia wasn't done yet. Kelly Ayer was hit by a pitch and stole second before Lauren VanAssche brought her home with an RBI single to give the Cavaliers a quick and commanding 5-0 lead after just one inning. 

"I think we had a good plan going up against their starter," said UVA head coach Joanna Hardin. "We prep, we plan, but it's just execution... so it's good to see that out of the gate."

UVA added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, again using the long ball to extend the lead. Hylton drew a leadoff walk and then Tori Gilbert sent a two-run blast into the Virginia bullpen in left field. 

The Dukes had chances to respond with runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but Virginia starter Eden Bigham managed to get herself out of each of those situations without allowing any runs. 

After a scoreless third and fourth innings, JMU got on the board with back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth, but UVA responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. Shelby Barbee drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a single from Sydney Hartgrove to make it 8-1. Virginia put in Jenny Bressler in the sixth and Bressler gave up one run to the Dukes, but did well to limit the damage to just the one run after JMU loaded the bases with just one out. 

The Cavaliers answered again in the bottom of the sixth and this time, finished the deal with a pair of runs to trigger the run-rule. Tori Gilbert hit a leadoff single and then Gabby Baylog singled to left field. The JMU left fielder mishandled the ball for a moment, and some heads-up baserunning from Gilbert allowed her to score from first base. Another JMU error, this time from the third baseman on a grounder by Barbee, allowed Gabby Baylog to score the game-ending run. 

Virginia had nine hits in the game as compared to seven for JMU, but the Cavaliers were much more opportunistic with their chances, leaving only five runners on base while the Dukes stranded nine. 

With the win, Virginia improves to 29-15 overall and 19-5 in home games this season. UVA will play its final home series of the regular season this weekend against Louisville. Game 1 is set for Friday at 6pm at Palmer Park. 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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