The Virginia softball team earned its first conference win of the season at Chapel Hill Sunday with a 3-1 decision against ACC foe North Carolina. Sophomore pitcher Melanie Mitchell took the circle for the first time since falling victim to injury March 12 against then-No. 25 Syracuse. The reliable ace pitched all seven innings during her return appearance, yielding only one run on six hits.
Mitchell also fanned five batters and surrendered just one walk to earn her ninth win of the season.
Meanwhile, freshman third baseman Erica Cipolloni and senior catcher Alison Pittman led the Cavaliers' offensive charge. Cipolloni belted her first career home run during the fifth inning to knot the score at one apiece, while Pittman scored the go-ahead run during the sixth frame.
But despite tasting victory Sunday, the Cavaliers (16-19, 1-7 ACC) dropped two games against the Tar Heels (24-13, 7-2 ACC) during the weekend series to remain in last place in the conference. North Carolina, which has received votes in two recent top-25 polls, secured a 5-3 victory during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader before notching an 8-2 win during the second game.\nVirginia could not find much success during the first matchup against freshman pitcher Lori Spingola, who struck out nine Cavaliers and allowed only five hits en route to a complete game performance. And the Cavaliers' struggles continued into the second meeting between the two squads as they allowed the Tar Heels to score six runs on six hits during the fourth inning to a take a commanding early lead.
The Cavaliers will return home for a midweek doubleheader against in-state rival James Madison tomorrow evening before hitting the road again this weekend to face off against Florida State.
-compiled by Ben Baskin
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