Brighton, Mass. (cvillerightnow.com): Virginia Softball started their ACC tournament run in 2025 in thrilling fashion with a 3-2 walk-off victory against the Louisville Cardinals yesterday evening.  Kelly Ayer was the hero on Wednesday night with a long double in the bottom of the seventh to cap a Wahoo rally.  Ayer’s two-bagger sealed the win for Eden Bigham, who, in a season that saw her throw a perfect game, dominated in relief across a five-inning stint striking out two and surrendering just one run. 

Neither squad scored until the third inning of play when the Cardinals took advantage of a wild throwing error, and the away team doubled their lead in the sixth with an RBI single.  The Wahoo offense found their way into the game in the sixth inning, loading the bases and getting on the board with a single off the bat of Sydney Hartgrove that scored two of those runs. 

One inning later, Kailyn Jones found her way aboard on a fielder’s choice in the final frame.  With one out, slugging shortstop Jade Hylton drew a walk to bring Ayer to the plate.   Her double ended the game to score Jones on the rocket to left. 

The win against Louisville puts Virginia in the quarterfinals.  They play at 5:00pm this evening, and their opponents will be the #2 Clemson Tigers.  This will be the first meeting of 2025 between these two clubs.  The Tigers are 41-12 this season,