Virginia defeated Indiana 8-7 in eight innings to open NCAA Regional play, according to a May 15 announcement. The game took place in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Reagan Hickey hit a ball off the wall in right center to drive in Jade Hylton from second base for the winning run.
The matchup saw several lead changes. Indiana started strong with a two-run home run by Avery Parker and added another run after multiple errors by Virginia. Virginia responded in the second inning when Jade Hylton hit a three-run home run to tie the score at 3-3. In the third inning, Ellie Goins of Indiana hit a two-run home run to put her team back ahead.
Virginia tied the game again in the fourth inning with solo home runs from Madison Greene and Hylton. Goins then hit her second two-run homer of the night for Indiana, but Virginia matched it once more with a bases-loaded walk and an RBI groundout in the sixth inning.
In extra innings, Virginia had an opportunity to win in the seventh but was stopped at home plate by Indiana’s defense. However, Hickey delivered in the eighth inning for Virginia’s victory.
Head coach Joanna Hardin said, “What a game. Indiana played their guts out and both sides really got after it tonight. I was really impressed with both teams. I’m grateful that we kept fighting and battling. That’s the team we know we are. We’ve been punched in the face a lot this year and it’s been about resilience and recovery. I’m proud of this team and how they kept fighting. They kept knocking and a door finally opened.”
Virginia will next face host Tennessee on Saturday, May 16 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
