(Charlottesville, Va.) – Looking to end a six-game road trip on a high note, the Delaware State softball team (19-12) struggled at the plate for a combined six hits to drop both games in Wednesday's doubleheader, 8-1 and 2-0, to the ACC's Virginia Cavaliers (6-32).
In game one, the Cavaliers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first, sparked by a Madison Labsher (5) two-run blast off Tara Tursellino (8-4).
With the score now 5-0 after an Iyana Hughes RBI-single to left field in the fourth, UVa's offense continued to thrive in the fifth, beginning with Labsher's (6) second bomb of the day to lead off the inning. The Cavaliers would go on to seal the win later in the frame with a Megan Harris RBI-single down the left field line and outfielder Heidi Velk churning out an RBI-single to shortstop Chloe Oro with the bases loaded.
At game's end, Tursellino's rough outing included 11 hits and three walks allowed, whereas her counterpart in Aimee Chadelaine (5-26) surrendered four hits, a walk and tallied two strikeouts to pick up the shutout victory.
Game two, meanwhile, featured Virginia once again took an early lead in the first, this time with Velk scoring from third off a DSU error. In the third, same score, UVa's Lindsay Mayer increased her team's lead to two with a RBI-singled through the left side off starter Vanessa Ciocatto (7-5).
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, that would be just enough as Chadelaine (6-26) mowed down the Hornets to allow just two hits, with both coming off the bat of outfielder Jessica Madrid, and a walk, to go along with two K's. The Hornets, however, managed to get game-tying run with Tursellino at the plate, but Chadelaine forced a ground out to third to end the game.
Despite the loss, Ciocatto turned in a solid outing in the circle to yield five hits, one earned run, a walk and total two strikeouts.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return home to face MEAC foe Coppin State for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.). Sunday's finale at 3:30 p.m., however, will be aired on ESPNU/ESPN3. Be sure to check your local listings.
