CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — UVA softball snapped its six-game losing streak with a win over NC State on Friday, en route to a weekend sweep of the Wolfpack to close out its ACC slate.
Coming off a 9-7 loss to JMU at home on Tuesday, Reagan Hickey hit the two-run home run that made the difference in the Cavaliers’ 3-1 game one victory against the Wolfpack. In game two, a pair of big home runs, one from Bella Cabral and a grand slam from Alex Call, backed a career performance by first-year pitcher Taylor Smith, who no-hit the Wolfpack in a five-inning run rule victory. More early long balls in game three helped Virginia secure the sweep, as it took the win Sunday 7-4.
Next, the Cavaliers will close out the regular season at Liberty on Tuesday at 5 p.m., before they face the gauntlet of the ACC Championships beginning May 6.
Lacrosse
For the first time in since 1985, Virginia’s women’s lacrosse team won’t be part of the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers 11-9 loss to Syracuse in the ACC quarterfinals Wednesday finished their season at 8-9, and meant that the program’s streak of 29 straight NCAA appearances is over.
The Orange’s Emma Muschnick put four goals past the Virginia defense, and Syracuse led by as many as five goals. UVA trailed 9-5 to start the fourth quarter, but two goals from Fiona Allen and three assists by Madison Alaimo helped the Cavaliers cut their deficit to a single goal with 5:22 to play.
The final burst was not enough to put the ‘Hoos over the top.
Later in the week, men’s lacrosse sent off its seniors in style against Drexel, winning decisively 17-8 to wrap up their regular season.
Truitt Sunderland scored four goals and tallied six assists on the day, a career-best performance for the veteran attackman, leading the way in the points for Virginia. Joey Terenzi and Ryan Dunkel also notched hat tricks against the Dragons. The Cavaliers will hope to carry that momentum into the ACC tournament. The Hoos will face Notre Dame in Charlotte on Friday at 5 p.m.
Virginia previously Notre Dame 11-9 on March 28.
Baseball
Baseball took home a win in a one-run thriller against Liberty 5-4 on Wednesday night at Disharoon Park. A home run by catcher Jake Weatherspoon and some late small-ball run manufacturing from Antonio Perotta and Noah Murray turned an early Liberty lead on its head to end the Wahoo homestand positively.
That weekend, the Cavaliers travelled to Pitt where they swept in a weekend series. The Panthers outscored the ‘Hoos 25-8, including an 11-0 run-rule win in game two.
Next, the Cavaliers will have two midweek games against George Mason and Norfolk State on Tuesday and Wednesday before a Sunday doubleheader against Radford beginning at noon.
More action
Men’s golf advanced to match play and is in action against Stanford for the ACC title after a heroic putt from Josh Duangmanee earned them a semifinal victory against North Carolina.
Rowing won all but the third varsity eight at the Lake Wheeler Invite on Saturday, besting UNC, Duke, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.
Nathan Mountain, Anders Felts, Sam Rodman, and Gary Martin won the men’s distance medley at the Penn Relays with a stellar time of 9:33.13. Also in Philadelphia, Abigail Meckes took third in the college division Javelin Throw with a 44.39m. Also on the men’s side, Jayden McKeen took third in the college javelin competition with a mark of 62.78m.
