Hokie ClubCLEARWATER, Fla. -The Virginia Tech softball team captured their seventh win of the season over Illinois-Chicago, while dropping a tight 3-2 contest to Fordham on Saturday afternoon, going 1-1 on the second day at the USF Under Armour Invite. Tech was led by sophomore Kenzie Roark, who pitched 10 and two-thirds inning, while fanning nine batters on the day.
In the first game of the day, Tech fell to Fordham, 3-2. The Rams got on the board early, registering two runs in the top of the first inning. Tech cut the deficit in half after senior Charisse Mariconda touched the plate for the first run for the Hokies, when classmate Jessica Everhart doubled.
Fordham added their third run in the game off a homerun from sophomore Jocelyn Dearborn in the top of the third inning, giving the Rams a 3-1 advantage.
The Hokies answered once more in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Beth Walker led off the inning with a shot to left center field for a double, putting her in scoring position for Tech. With two-outs and a runner at second senior Jenna Rhodes knocked in her classmate for the second run of the game for Tech. Rhodes had two hits and a stolen base in the contest.
On the mound freshman Abbie Rexrode started the game for the Hokies, her second start in as many days, going three and third innings with two strikeouts and two earned runs. Roark relieved Rexrode in the fourth inning. The sophomore closed out the contest going three and two thirds innings and striking out one batter in the process.
Tech took the field for the second game of the day against Illinois-Chicago. The Flames grabbed an early 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the top half of the third inning with two outs, freshman Kristin Graham knocked her first career homerun over the left field fence, cutting into the Illinois-Chicago lead, 2-1.
The Hokies claimed the lead 3-2 in the top of the fifth. Freshman Marra Hvozdovic gave the Hokies the lead after she blasted a two-run homerun over the left field wall. Hvozdovic who hit her first career homerun, drove in junior Alicia Field after she reached on a single in the inning.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning Roark, who started game two for Tech, struck out three straight Flame batters to keep Illinois-Chicago off the scoreboard. The sophomore retired nine straight batters from the fourth through the sixth inning.
Tech will conclude play in Clearwater, Fla., on Sunday at 10 a.m. The Hokies will take on Western Michigan. Check back to www.hokiesports.com, following the contest.