Virginia softball looks to play underdog in ACC Tournament

Virginia softball has had an distinctive softball season this spring. Highlighted by top-of-the-line ACC begins in program historical past, the Cavaliers (27-23, 13-11 ACC) have tied program information of 13 whole ACC wins and 4 ACC collection wins this yr.

As a reward for the record-tying efficiency, Virginia has earned the sixth seed within the ACC Event, which began Wednesday. That is the very best seed for the Cavaliers since 2012, once they have been additionally seeded sixth.

The event, hosted by Pittsburgh, consists of the top-10 ACC groups, ranked by common season convention win-loss information. Because the sixth seed, Virginia obtained a first-round bye and can sq. off within the quarterfinals towards third-seeded Florida State Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Each recreation shall be streamed on ACC Community except for the championship recreation, which shall be broadcast on ESPN Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Cavaliers have been exhausting at work since their final common season recreation towards Louisville on Could 1. 

Whereas this system has had an all-time yr, after their loss to shut the common season, Coach Joanna Hardin emphasised how the Cavaliers have been nonetheless hungry heading into the postseason.

“The work doesn’t cease for us,” Hardin mentioned. “We completed one purpose of being over .500 this season and have a possibility to perform our second purpose of constructing the NCAA Event.”

In CollegeSportsMadness.com’s bracketology of the Girls’s Faculty World Collection, Virginia is presently not within the discipline of groups, whereas Florida State sits at a 3 seed within the Tallahassee regional. If the Cavaliers need to clinch an NCAA Event berth, they may absolutely should make a run within the ACC Event, which can contain beating Florida State first. 

Of their collection towards Florida State earlier this season, the Cavaliers have been outplayed by the Seminoles (49-5, 19-5 ACC), who’ve dominated their competitors this yr. 

Florida State swept Virginia, successful all three video games convincingly in early April. They’ve swept three different ACC opponents, together with Georgia Tech, Clemson and most just lately NC State.

Nevertheless, the Seminoles have regarded susceptible at moments this yr. The workforce misplaced one time every to Pittsburgh, Boston Faculty and North Carolina, whereas Virginia Tech beat Florida State twice. 

In the meantime, the Cavaliers swept each Pittsburgh and Boston Faculty of their collection towards these ACC opponents. Even after being outclassed by Florida State earlier this yr, hopefully the Cavaliers can use their earlier successes as motivation to take down the Seminoles within the single-elimination type event.

To take down Florida State, Virginia will want the assistance of its offensive leaders, because the Seminoles are second within the ACC this yr with 323 runs scored — in comparison with the Cavaliers, who’re ninth with 223 runs scored. 

Sophomore utility participant Leah Boggs and junior infielder/outfielder Gabby Baylog shall be key for the Cavaliers on the plate. The duo lead Virginia in batting common, with Boggs hitting .288 and Baylog hitting .280 for the yr. Boggs additionally leads Virginia with 12 doubles.

Moreover, junior infielder Katie Goldberg and senior outfielder Tori Gilbert lead the Cavaliers in residence runs this season. Goldberg has 10 and Gilbert has 11 — the one two gamers with double-digit residence runs on the workforce.

On the defensive facet of the ball, Virginia’s fielding shall be crucial. The Cavaliers had a fielding proportion of .975 this season — good for second within the convention — whereas the Seminoles fielded at common of .956.

Sophomore right-hander Mikayla Houge seems to be poised to start out — or not less than pitch in some capability — towards the Seminoles. Houge (9-5) leads Virginia with 92.0 innings pitched, in addition to posting essentially the most wins on the workforce at 9. For Florida State, senior pitcher Mack Leonard has led the best way with a .383 pitching common in 53 video games performed. 

Thursday’s recreation might very properly decide whether or not the Cavaliers’ season continues, however win or lose, Virginia softball is headed in the best course below Hardin.