Virginia Softball Shuts Out Rutgers 2-0 for Third-Straight Win

Though the Cavaliers managed only two runs, that ended up being enough as Courtney Lane and Eden Bigham combined for a shutout from the pitcher's circle and Virginia softball (18-9) earned its third-straight victory with a 2-0 win over Rutgers (18-12) on Tuesday evening at Palmer Park. 

Rutgers and Virginia both threatened with runners in scoring position in their respective turns at the plate in the first inning, but both UVA starter Courtney Lane and Rutgers starter Mattie Boyd threw back-to-back strikeouts to get out of their jams. Lane and Boyd then mirrored each other again in the second frame, each working around a baserunner to keep the game scoreless. 

In the top of the third, Lane turned the ball over to Eden Bigham, who was essentially untouchable for the rest of the game. Bigham retired the side in order in the third and then, after hitting a batter to start the fourth and seeing that runner steal second and move to third on a groundout, picked up two key strikeouts to preserve the shutout. 

Virginia broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, as Macee Eaton got on board with a two-out walk and then raced around to bases to score on a double by Kelsey Hackett that went all the way to the wall.