The Virginia softball team hosts Towson today, looking to continue its recent surge which included a series win against No. 22 North Carolina last weekend. The Cavaliers (21-14, 7-1 ACC) have won six of their last seven games, including two of three against North Carolina last weekend.
Midweek games, however, have sometimes snared the Virginia team. Despite beating ranked opponents such as then-No. 2 Arizona and then-No. 4 Michigan, the Cavaliers have dropped weekday tests against in-state rivals Longwood and Liberty.
"We've gotten into trouble focusing so much on the weekend, that we lose our momentum a little bit for the midweek," freshman pitcher Melanie Mitchell said. "We just need to keep our energy level, though, and we'll be good."
Mitchell will take the circle for the Cavaliers and paces the Virginia staff with a 2.74 ERA and 17-10 record. She will face tough outs in Towson senior infielders Stef Streets and Mindy Bean, who are batting .341 and .338 respectively.
"They have a really solid lineup, but we just have to go out there and play our game, and we'll be fine," Mitchell said.
Towson (22-8, 5-1 CAA) enters the contest after sweeping series against UMBC and UNC Wilmington at home. Against UNC Wilmington last weekend, the Towson staff pitched lights out, allowing just 13 hits and no runs through three games.
Freshman Katie Lingmai leads Tiger pitchers with an 8-2 record and 1.02 ERA. Sophomore Dominique Ortega, who sports a 1.58 ERA, and senior Shannon Johnston with a, who owns a 2.50 ERA, round out the potent squad.
Squaring off against the stingy Towson pitching staff may prove difficult for the Cavaliers, who will face ACC foe Georgia Tech this weekend in a three-game series.
"It's another great midweek to prepare us for the weekend," Virginia coach Eileen Schmidt said. "It's like last week. We really need to take care of business during the week so that we're okay for the weekend."
The teams will first square off this afternoon at 4 p.m. before the second matchup at 6 p.m.
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