The University of Virginia softball team defeated North Carolina State by a score of 7-4 on April 26, completing a weekend sweep in Charlottesville. Early home runs from Jade Hylton and Bella Cabral helped the Cavaliers build an early lead against the Wolfpack.
The victory holds significance as it closes out Virginia’s Atlantic Coast Conference schedule and marks Senior Day for five Cavaliers: Eden Bigham, Kelsey Hackett, Kassidy Hudson, Jade Hylton, and Courtney Layne. The win brings Virginia’s record to 36-12 overall and 13-10 in conference play.
Hylton opened the first inning with a leadoff home run, followed by Cabral’s two-run shot. The Cavaliers scored five runs in the opening frame before NC State responded with a two-run homer from Lily Livingston in the third inning. Virginia added another run in the fifth when Kamyria Woody-Giggetts scored on a wild pitch. Although NC State narrowed the gap with two more runs in the sixth, Macee Eaton’s RBI double secured Virginia’s final margin.
Courtney Layne earned her twelfth win of the season after pitching four innings in relief of starter Eden Bigham. Rylee Wyman took the loss for NC State after allowing three runs early in her start.
Head coach Joanna Hardin said, “Coach Tylka had the team really prepared for the two arms we got in the first inning. We were really aggressive in what we were looking for. Jade (Hylton) leading off with a home run was just a gift on her senior day. The offense made quality outs too with hard hit balls right at people too. It was great to see them come out early; our key was to score first and score often. The combo of Eden (Bigham) and Courtney (Layne) opened and closed that game for us. We made some big defensive plays that gave us some momentum. I’m proud of this senior class, what they’ve meant to us and this program, and we’re not done.”
Looking ahead, Virginia will travel to face Liberty at Kamphuis Field on Tuesday night.
