With only one ACC series left in the season, the Virginia softball team travels to Boston College this weekend to play three of their final five games. Boston College (19-23, 4-14 ACC) sits at the bottom of the ACC. Virginia (26-21, 6-11 ACC) sits one slot higher, standing at seventh.
"When you're on the road, to get a sweep is a big deal," coach Karen Johns said. "We'll shoot to win the series, but to get all three wins will be a bonus."
Despite Boston College's record, the Cavaliers cannot afford to overlook them. With the conference being so competitive, the Cavaliers know that any team can upset another.
Last weekend, Boston College upset Maryland as catcher Ashley Obrest went 5-9 for the weekend and was named ACC Player of the Week.
"They have a good offense so we'll have to contend that with much better defense," Johns said.
The Cavaliers took a win from N.C. State Sunday, and they hope to use that momentum against Boston College.
Junior Amy McKean went 2-2 with an RBI in her second day back from a knee injury.
"She's been hitting the ball since November," Johns said. "She knows what she's doing when she gets in the box, and she has a high level of confidence."
Junior Coty Tolar, who sat out the first half of the season with an injury, has become one of the most active pitchers for the Cavaliers. Tolar has picked up 70 innings and a 2.80 ERA since returning last month.
"She's been dedicated to her mechanics," Johns said. "She's been throwing the ball well, and she's been a big bonus for us."
Tolar has pitched significantly in ACC contests, along with senior Erin Horn. Johns has chosen to go with her more experienced pitchers of late instead of sophomore Karla Wilburn and freshman Madi Gore.
"Having the other pitchers on the staff constantly pushing you, we compete against each other and that helps the staff as a whole," Tolar said. "It was great to come back and [pitch] because it was very hard to just watch for six weeks."
With the ACC Tournament scheduled to start May 11, Virginia could still end up playing one of many teams in the first round of the tournament.
The top four teams in the ACC are separated by two and a half games, and Virginia and Maryland have the same ACC record. Should Virginia run the table, they could take fifth place in the conference. If the tournament were to start today, the Cavaliers would take on No. 2 N.C. State, but they could end up playing North Carolina, Georgia Tech or Virginia Tech.
"I think they've done a great job, just learning the philosophy of the program," Johns said. "At the beginning of the season, we wanted to get 30 wins, and we still have a legitimate shot at that."
The Cavaliers might not have as many wins as last season, but one can look to every player and find an improved level of her game. At times in the season, the Cavaliers have produced pitching and offense as well as any team in the ACC, and next season the Cavaliers will look to produce the elements together more times than not. "I'm very satisfied with the season," Tolar said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect us to do better [this season] because I expect a lot out of every one of our players. We can be the best team in the ACC."
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