After an impressive 3-1 showing last weekend, the Virginia softball team (6-9, 2-7 ACC) was stifled by a tough opponent in the Clemson Tigers (13-2, 8-2 ACC), losing four games this weekend at Palmer Park.
The first game was a 9-1 run-rule victory for the Tigers courtesy of a five run fifth inning. UVA’s Morgan Murphy pitched 4.1 innings, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits. Aly Rayle made her first appearance of the season and pitched the final two outs, and when UVA was unable to score in the bottom of the fifth inning, the game was over. Clemson’s Alia Logoleo had an impressive showing with 5 RBI’s on two hits, as Clemson’s first four hitters combined for eight of the team’s nine total runs and five of the eight hits. Savana Avilla went 2-2 with an RBI to pace the Hoos.
In the Saturday doubleheader, the Hoos dropped two close contests by the scores 5-3 and 4-2. After a scoreless three innings, UVA got on the board with a two run homer by first baseman Tori Gilbert in the bottom of the fourth. Gilbert went 3-4 in the game. However, Clemson responded with one run in the fifth and four in the sixth, mounting a comeback to take the game in the late innings. Despite only recording five hits, the Tigers used a triple, two walks, a sac-fly, and a double in their rally to outscore the Hoos.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Virginia’s Molly Grube worked 5.2 scoreless innings before surrendering a three run homer to Morgan Johnson to help Clemson take the lead after UVA plated one run in the fourth and one in the fifth. Clemson pitchers Regan Spencer and Valerie Cagle teamed up for the victory, with Spencer earning the win and Cagle registering the save.
In the final game, Clemson came to hit and plated eight runs in an 8-1 victory. The Hoos used five pitchers and none could hold the Tigers out of the scoring column for long. Meanwhile, Valerie Cagle continued her dominance and pitched a complete game for Clemson, only giving up one run.
Despite the disappointing final scores, UVA head coach Joanna Hardin was proud of her team. Tori Gilbert hit .417 in the series to pace her team. Another note is the Hoos scored first in the last three games of the series, but were unable to hold onto those leads.
UVA will face rival Virginia Tech on Tuesday at Palmer Park to wrap up the nine game homestand.
