The Virginia softball team opened its season last weekend with a 1-1 split against UNC Wilmington and Elon.
After delivering a 9-0 blow to UNC Wilmington to start the weekend's slate of games, the Cavaliers faced a surprising 10-4 deficit with three innings left to play against the Phoenix. But after Elon scored six runs off sophomore Stephanie Coates, Virginia responded with back-to-back two-run innings to close the gap to two. Freshman infielder Alex Skinkis began the comeback with a two-out, two-run home run to left field in the top of the fifth. The Cavaliers tacked on two more during the following inning.
After sophomore Kennedy Byxbee's walk with the bases loaded sent senior Abby Snyder home, Virginia scored another run when sophomore shortstop Clara Kendall tagged on Skinkis's pop-out to shortstop. The Cavaliers were shut out in the seventh, however, losing by a final score of 10-8.
-compiled by Andrew Seidman