The Virginia softball team earned a crucial series victory at home this past weekend against conference rival Virginia Tech. The two teams split a Friday doubleheader - with both games proving to be one-sided affairs - before the Cavaliers clinched the series with a comeback victory during an exciting back-and-forth game Saturday night.
The Friday play of the Cavaliers (21-23, 4-9 ACC) was a veritable tale of two teams as they started strong en route to an easy 8-2 victory, before surrendering runs early and often during a lopsided 14-4 defeat in game two. Before a packed home crowd, Virginia showed great energy and passion in the early game, as the team seemingly was well aware of the series' implications.
"It's a big series for us," sophomore shortstop Alex Skinkis said. "And this game is all about energy and who has the edge. So we came out in the first game and we wanted it more, and you can tell, they came out too but they quieted down."
More specifically, sophomore pitcher Melanie Mitchell silenced the Hokies (31-13, 8-7 ACC). Virginia's ace went all seven innings and allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out 12. Mitchell allowed a run to cross during both the first and last innings of the game, but she proved nearly perfect in the middle frames and allowed her offense to return the favor.
Facing one of the toughest pitching staffs in the ACC, the Cavalier hitters forced all three of the Hokies' top hurlers to enter into the game. Sophomore pitcher Jasmin Harrell started but was pulled in favor of senior pitcher Kenzie Roark midway through the third inning after allowing three runs. Roark lasted until the sixth inning, allowing three more runs on six Virginia hits, before yielding to senior pitcher Ashton Ward, who finished the game.
Virginia's batters tallied their eight runs on 12 hits and did their damage throughout the lineup as eight Cavalier batters hit safely during the game. Senior catcher Alison Pittman went 3-for-4 from the plate and Skinkis tallied three RBIs on two hits.
"I thought that we had a pretty good game plan for each one of their pitchers," coach Eileen Schmidt said. "And I think they did a good job of executing that game plan, and getting deep into counts. And even the second game I thought we did a good job offensively, even though we were where we were."
Offense was not the problem for the Cavaliers during the second game of the doubleheader, however. Mitchell returned to the circle to start game two but lasted just three batters before she re-aggravated the oblique injury that sidelined her for multiple weeks in mid-March and was forced to leave the game.
The injury forced the Cavaliers to rely on a bullpen by committee as junior pitcher Stephanie Coates entered in relief but allowed five runs and lasted just two innings before giving way to freshman pitcher Erica Cipolloni. Cipolloni did not fare much better against the potent Hokie lineup as she surrendered eight more runs on eight hits during the final three innings.
While the Cavaliers kept fighting and scored three of their four runs during the final two innings, they had no answer to Virginia Tech's power. The Hokies hit three deep home runs during the game that left the Cavaliers with little to do but tip their caps.
"You have to give it to them; they were smashing the ball," Skinkis said. "When they're hitting homers like that you can't take that away from them. There's not much we could do."
Weather delayed Saturday's rubber match as rain forced the game to be moved from the afternoon to an evening start. Just as the weather rallied late and allowed the series decider to be played, so too did the Cavaliers rally for an important win.
Mitchell, who seemed unperturbed by the minor injury sustained during Friday's game, tossed all seven innings for her 22nd complete game of the season. She allowed five runs on 10 hits, and appeared destined for a loss when she walked off the mound after the seventh inning with the Cavaliers down 5-3 entering the final frame.
Pittman led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single and then moved to second on a groundout by Cipolloni. After freshman first baseman Stephanie Harris walked to put two runners on and a Skinkis groundout moved the runners to second and third, the Cavaliers were down to their last out. Roark - who started the game for the Hokies - then completely lost control of the strike zone and walked the next three Virginia batters, including two with the bases loaded, to bring home the game-tying runs.
That brought sophomore left fielder Taylor Williams to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. The speedy Williams put just enough bat on the ball to bloop a single into center field and score the winning run. The walk-off hit gave the Cavaliers the all-important conference series victory and big boost in confidence.
"I think we knew how important this series was," Schmidt said. "And I feel like we're ready to turn it on and get hot. And from an offensive side and a defensive side, I think we're there and now can be the time"
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