Virginia Softball Sweeps Mizuno Classic, Shutting Out Ohio State and Delaware

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 21 Virginia softball team (12-1) continued its strong start to the season, posting a pair of shutouts at the Mizuno Classic on Saturday (Feb. 21), defeating Ohio State (6-7) by a score of 8-0 in five innings before beating Delaware (6-10) by a score of 5-0.

Due to expected inclement weather in the greater area, Sunday’s games at the Mizuno Classic have been canceled.

No. 21 Virginia 8, Ohio State 0 (5 Innings)

Virginia took control early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Macee Eaton singled to short, bringing in the first run. A bases-loaded walk for Bella Cabral extended the lead to 2-0. Alex Call then hit a two-RBI double, making it a 4-0 game after the first inning.

The Hoos added a fifth run in the second inning when Eaton drove in Hylton with a single. The game ended in the fifth inning with three more runs, including home runs from Cabral and Reagan Hickey. Cabral hit a line drive home run to center field, followed by a single from Kelsey Hackett and a two-run shot to left center from Hickey, securing the 8-0 win.

Eden Bigham (5-0) earned the win in relief, pitching the final 3.1 innings, striking out two and allowing one hit. Lorin Boutte (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts through 1.1 innings.

No. 21 Virginia 5, Delaware 0

Virginia quickly established a lead against Delaware, scoring two runs in the first inning. Jade Hylton reached on a leadoff walk and scored on a double to center from Kassidy Hudson. Hudson then advanced to third on a single from Macee Eaton and scored on a sacrifice fly from Kelsey Hackett, putting the Hoos up 2-0.

A two-run home run from Eaton in the third inning extended Virginia’s lead to 4-0. The Cavaliers capped the scoring in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Jade Hylton.

Julia Cuozzo (1-1) secured the win, allowing only two hits with four walks and six strikeouts through 4.1 innings. Courtney Layne closed out the final 2.2 innings, allowing one hit with a walk and three strikeouts. Josie Crossman (3-4) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Noting the Hoos

Macee Eaton went 4-for-6 on the day with four RBI, bringing her season total to 22. Eaton, Reagan Hickey, and Bella Cabral all homered, giving UVA 18 home runs on the year. Eaton leads the team with five home runs, while Hickey has four. Virginia has now posted five shutouts this season and scored at least five runs in nine of 13 games.

From Head Coach Joanna Hardin

“The pitching staff has been phenomenal. Taylor Smith opened up game one and kept us in there attacking the zone. Eden Bigham brought it home. Julia got extended in her start (against Delaware) and it’s the longest outing she’s had to open for us and then Courtney Layne was phenomenal coming in. They complement each other exceptionally well. Offensively, we’re seeing it really well, taking great pitches, seeing it in the zone and getting off fine swings on the pitches we’re looking for. The discipline at the plate lends itself to scoring runs throughout the whole game. I’m really proud of that. We’re playing really well together right now. As we get closer to conference play, we necessitate to continue the momentum and mentally stay prepared and locked in. It’s a long season.”

Up Next for the Hoos

Virginia returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 24) when the Cavaliers will travel to face Longwood in a 2 p.m. Contest. The Cavaliers will then return home to host the Party At Palmer Invitational next weekend with Michigan, Bucknell and Villanova competing at Palmer Park.