PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball team looks to build on its season-opening tournament when it travels to Charlottesville this weekend to partake in the Cavalier Clash, hosted by the University of Virginia.
The Hawks will be faced with no shortage of talent in Virginia. UMES faces the Cavaliers on Friday, February 24, before battling with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Howard and Atlantic-10 opponent George Washington on Saturday, February 25.
UMES will then make the short trip to Farmville, Virginia to face St. John's and Longwood on Sunday (February 26) to conclude the tournament.
"This weekend we are playing some great competition," Hawks coach Karla Ross said. "Our overall goal is to win a conference championship and secure a regional bid, and these are the kind of programs we need to compete against to prepare us."
Checking on the Hawks
UMES enters the Cavalier Clash with a 1-3 record on the young season. The Hawks faced the University of South Carolina – Upstate, Holy Cross and George Mason in the weather-shortened weekend before grabbing their first victory of 2023, defeating their familiar conference competitor South Carolina State by a 4-2 line.
First-year pitcher Katelyn Smitchko was essential in the team's win over the Bulldogs, tossing seven frames and surrendering just one earned run. Smitchko also fanned two S.C. State batters in the outing.
Freshman Jaycee Holt held the hottest UMES bat at the Spartan Classic, recording seven hits in her 12 at-bats over the four games while walking twice, scoring twice and driving in two runs. Holt was rewarded for her efforts, being named the MEAC Rookie of the Week on February 20.
Big weekends from Nola Mountain and Kelsie Ekstrom also helped fuel the Hawk hitting. Mountain was 5-for-10 over the weekend and scored twice, while Ekstrom recorded three hits in her seven AB's while earning a team-high four free passes.
Scouting the Cavaliers
The University of Virginia softball squad enters at 6-4 thus far after winning four straight to open their 2023 campaign.
The Cavaliers have won each of their first three road contests, but hold a 3-4 record in neutral-site play. The group last played in the Atlantic Coast Conference/Big 10 Challenge, where they dropped two contests to #23 Maryland and split their matchups with Minnesota.
Of the players with 30+ at-bats, freshman Mary Caroline Eaton holds the best average at .290 on the year. Five of Eaton's nine hits have been for extra bases, four of which were home runs, and her 10 RBI's lead the team as well.
Fellow freshman Eden Bigham has led the pitching staff, allowing three runs over 24.1 innings in five appearances. Bigham has struck out 30 batters and thrown two complete games.
Virginia gets an early start to the Clash, facing Longwood on Thursday, February 23 at 4:00 p.m. on their home field.
The contest between UMES and Virginia is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and will be available to stream on the ACC Network.
