Hokie ClubATLANTA, Ga. – The Virginia Tech softball team dropped a pair of games to Evansville University Sunday on the final day of the Georgia State First Pitch Classic. Tech lost the first game 9-0 in five innings before falling 8-0 in five innings in the final game.
In the first game of the day, the Purple Aces struck quickly with a leadoff home run. After loading the bases, Evansville’s Kylie Wagner scored on a fielder’s choice to make it an early 2-0 lead.
Evansville added to that lead in a big way with a six-run second inning in which 10 batters came to the plate. Five out of six straight batters recorded singles to open the floodgates and chase Tech starter Kenzie Roark (L, 1-5) from the game after just 1.1 innings. Abbie Rexrode relieved her and eventually got out of the inning, but the damage was done.
The Hokies picked up six singles, two from Jenna Rhodes and one apiece from Whitney Davis, Jessica Everhart, Marra Hvozdovic (first collegiate hit) and Kristen Froehlich. Roark allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits with a walk. Rexrode pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The two teams met again in the afternoon in the third-place game with things coming out the same way. A scoreless game in the third inning was broken open by consecutive triples to make it 2-0, Aces. Tech had a great chance in the top of the fourth, putting runners on second and third base with one out, but a failed suicide squeeze play cut down one potential run and a groundout ended the inning.
The Aces tacked six runs on the board in the fourth inning thanks, in part, to six singles and some defensive miscues by Tech to widen the lead and end it early due to the run-ahead rule.
Rexrode (L, 1-2) went 3.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Roark pitched the final 0.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with a walk.
At the plate, Rhodes had three hits and two stolen bases to lead the way. Charisse Mariconda, Davis and Froehlich each had a hit. Amber Walker threw out a base runner attempting to steal second base.
Tech (2-7) will be back in action next weekend at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic, hosted by Coastal Carolina University. Appalachian State, Coastal, Maine and Western Carolina will compete in the event with the Hokies. Tech will open against the host Chanticleers on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by Maine at 4:30.