Virginia defeated Liberty by a score of 4-0 at the Liberty Softball Stadium on April 28. The game opened with a leadoff home run from Jade Hylton, giving Virginia an early lead. Hylton was initially called back to the plate after what she thought was ball four, then hit a home run to right field.
The team extended its lead in the third inning when Hylton scored on a sacrifice fly from Bella Cabral. Reagan Hickey followed with a solo home run to center field, putting Virginia ahead by three runs. In the fourth inning, Macee Eaton drew a bases-loaded walk for another run before Liberty turned a double play.
Eden Bigham earned her thirteenth win of the season, allowing one hit and striking out six batters over five innings of relief work. She entered at the start of the third inning for starter Taylor Smith. Danner Allen took the loss for Liberty after allowing three runs in just under three innings.
Hylton’s leadoff home run marked her tenth of the season and second consecutive game with such an achievement. Hickey also reached ten home runs this year with her shot in the third inning. Eaton increased her season total to sixty runs batted in, which is now second most for any single season at Virginia behind her own record set last year.
Head coach Joanna Hardin said, “One of our keys today was show up and finish well. That’s important at this point of the season. It’s a grind. We’re ready for a little break here before the ACC Tournament. I’m proud of this team for staying true and steadfast. Jade set the tone getting the big fly in the first and we got another from Reagan Hickey. I’m really proud of the effort. It’s a long season. I’m proud of how we finished out.” Hardin added praise for Bigham’s performance: “Eden Bigham was an absolute stud tonight, throwing everything in the zone… We’re glad to have a break and prepare to host the ACC Championship at Palmer Park.”
With this victory, Virginia secured its thirty-seventh win—its highest regular-season total since 2004—and swept its series against Liberty for only their first time since 2014.
Virginia will next compete at Palmer Park during the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship beginning May 6.
