Virginia Softball Takes Two of Three at Notre Dame, Wins 4th ACC Series

Momentum continues to build for the Virginia softball team. The Cavaliers went on the road this weekend and came away with their fourth ACC series win of the season, taking two out of three games at Notre Dame. Virginia (26-11, 9-6 ACC) has now won seven of its last eight games and 11 of its last 13 and is tied for fifth in the ACC standings.

Game 1 (Friday 4/5): Virginia 9, Notre Dame 2

A pair of three-run innings gave the Cavaliers an early lead in the series opener on Friday in South Bend and UVA's pitching duo of Mikayla Houge and Eden Bigham did the rest. Virginia got on the board with a bases-clearing three-run triple by Jade Hylton in the top of the second. UVA cashed in on another bases loaded opportunity in the third, walking in a run and then scoring two more on a Leah Boggs single up the middle. Bella Cabral added a two-run home run in the fifth and Hylton hit an RBI double in the seventh, giving her four RBI for the day.

Of course, the Cavaliers didn't necessarily need that much run production thanks to the combined efforts of Houge and Bigham. Houge pitched two innings and gave up one unearned run before Bigham took over and went the duration, giving up only one earned run on two hits in five innings and striking out five batters.

Game 2 (Saturday 4/6): Virginia 3, Notre Dame 10

Game 2 saw the Cavaliers experience setbacks in both phases, as the UVA bats produced just three runs on seven hits, while the Virginia arms surrendered 10 runs on 11 hits. There were fireworks early on, with UVA getting RBI singles from Abby Weaver and Sarah Coon in the top of the first and Notre Dame answering with a two-run double in the bottom half. The Fighting Irish then took the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.

Virginia took a bite out of the lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, but Notre Dame again responded with a run in the bottom half and then blew the game open with a five-run sixth inning, which included just three hits, as the Cavaliers committed two errors and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. Those blunders allowed Notre Dame to pull away for the 10-3 win and Madi Harris suffered just her second loss of the season in relief.

Game 3 (Sunday 4/7): Virginia 6, Notre Dame 3

Virginia got back on track in the series finale on Sunday and again rode solid pitching efforts from Mikayla Houge and Eden Bigham. The game started with a pair of scoreless frames before Jade Hylton scored Lauren VanAssche with a double into the gap in left center, but Notre Dame also scored in the third to tie things up. The Cavaliers seized control with a four-run fourth inning, which was started by Bella Cabral, Macee Eaton, and Sarah Coon each reaching base to load the bases with no outs. Abby Weaver walked to bring in a run and then, two batters later, Kelly Ayer came up with a clutch bases-blearing triple to the gap in right center field to make it 5-1.

Bella Cabral crushed a ball over the wall in left field for a solo homer in the top of the fifth to extend the UVA lead to five runs. Notre Dame got two runs back on a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth, but that was the only blemish on Eden Bigham's day, as she gave up just two earned runs on five hits and struck out four batters in 4.2 innings of work, earning her second win of the weekend and 11th of the season. Kelly Ayer led the way offensively with her three RBI.

“I love how we came out and responded from Saturday’s game. We were sharp, we were intent and focused. The response today was a complete 180 from everyone," said UVA head coach Joanna Hardin after Sunday's game. "Kelly Ayer’s hit was big and she’s been waiting for her chance. Mikayla Houge and Eden Bigham tag teamed it in the circle for the win again. I’m proud of the team for grinding it out to find a way to win. This is a tough league and a tough place to play. We have to get home and turn it around quick for Liberty on Tuesday night.”

Virginia is set to open a five-game homestand, which will also be the team's final five home games of the regular season, against Liberty on Tuesday at 7pm at Palmer Park. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.