Double the Diamonds, Double the Wins: UVA sweeps UNC on the day

Friday was a great day for UVA Athletics, ESPECIALLY for sports that involve Diamond playing fields. Virginia baseball and softball both traveled to Chapel Hill to begin the weekend series with the Tar Heels of UNC opening ACC play. The results speak for themselves, a very successful day for both teams.

Baseball

It started in the top of the first inning when Harrison Didawick hit a sky-high ball as a sacrifice driving Eric Becker in. Becker had led off the game getting hit by a pitch and then advancing on a wild pitch.

Then, from the third inning on, the Cavaliers continued to pile on the runs each inning with offensive production from multiple names. The third and fourth inning in particular were ugly for the Tar Heels committing 3 total errors all in which eventually resulted in runs. Add on singles from Eric Becker and Noah Murray, it all resulted in a couple of big innings. To cap it all off, Zach Jackson hit a two-run homerun to right center making it an 8-0 game in the top of the 4th.

After Eric Becker scored again on a wild pitch in the 5th, Harrison Didawick scored another 2 RBI's homering to right centerfield.

The final scores of the game would be a two-run double from Noah Murray to make it a 10-run game ultimately beating number 8 in the country North Carolina in run-rule fashion, 13-3.

All Cavaliers except for one in the lineup had a base hit today, Becker went 3-4, Sam Harris 2-3, and Noah Murray 3-4.

Henry Zatkowski started on the mound for Virginia and earned the win. Going five and a third only giving up 3 runs and finishing with three strikeouts. Lucas Hartman closed it out going one and two thirds not giving up a hit, run, or a walk.

Coach Chris Pollard spoke after the game, “We kept applying pleasure, we never left the zone and we were on time when he was in the zone with the fastball. I thought it was a really good approach by our team and we did not back off the gas to force them to keep bringing relievers into the ballgame.” Obviously, Coach Pollard is very familiar with UNC as he was the Duke Coach prior to being at Virginia.

The Cavaliers are set to face the Tar-Heels again Saturday for a double-header.

Softball

As for the women, they also had a pretty good day at the Diamond staying red hot. Beating North Carolina 7-3 also at UNC.

Kelsey Hackett homered in the top of the second to deep left field sending a response to UNC's first run an inning prior.

None other than Bella Cabral got rolling AGAIN for the 'Hoos Friday afternoon. Cabral homered again in the top of the 4th for her 9th homerun of the season. Then in the fifth, she broke the game open hitting a 3 run double off of Kendall Frost.

Kassidy Hudson put the cherry on top in the 6th hitting a 2-run single closing out a very successful offensive day for Virginia.

The Cavaliers only needed two pitchers to get it done today. Eden Bigham and Courtney Layne combined for six strikeouts only giving up three runs.

Coach Joanna Hardin commented postgame, “We played a super gritty game tonight. We responded well after giving up the home run in the second inning. We stuck with our at bats and that was great to see. Courtney Layne put up a bunch of zeros and gave the offense time to string hits together. Timely hitting is the key, and Kass Hudson and Bella Cabral came up with timely hits with runners in scoring position. One of our goals for the weekend was to execute in high-leverage situations. We know Carolina is extremely competitive, has a great lineup and a great team. It will be important to execute and play clean defense when the game feels heightened. We did a good job of that tonight.”

The softball team will also be playing a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 3PM in Chapel Hill in an attempt to avoid inclement weather.