Hokie ClubDURHAM, N.C. - Virginia Tech used a big offensive performance and timely pitching to win their fifth-consecutive game as the Hokies defeated Penn State, 9-6, on Saturday morning in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Senior Jessie Mehr went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI, sophomore Taylor Clark had a three-run triple and senior Caroline Schoenewald scored three times for Tech (5-2). Freshman Jordan Dail moved to 3-0 on the season after striking out seven 5.1 innings of relief.
With the score tied at 5-5 in the top of the sixth, freshman Sammi Miller picked up her second hit of the game with a double to the left center field gap and later moved to third on a wild pitch with Schoenewald at the plate. Back-to-back walks brought junior Emma Strouth to plate and she drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice RBI that gave the Hokies a 6-5 advantage.
Still looking for the big hit, Mehr delivered with a two-run single to right center that plated Schoenewald and junior Olivia Lattin and extended the Tech lead to 8-5. Junior Caitlyn Nolan tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly one batter later that scored Strouth and made it 9-5 Hokies.
Despite giving up a run in the seventh, Dail was able to complete her relief performance with a backwards K for the final out.
Miller led off the ballgame with a single to right and went first to third on a double down the left field line from Schoenewald. After Strouth reached on a fielding error by the first baseman that loaded the bases with one out, Mehr hit a grounder to second that was fielded and thrown home but wasn’t in time as Miller scored the game’s first run.
With two down and the bases still loaded, Clark placed a ball along the right field line that gave her the first triple of her career. All three runs came around to score and the Hokies extended their lead to 4-0.
In the top of the second, Schoenewald drew a two-out walk and moved to second on her third stolen base of the season. Lattin followed with an infield single that moved Schoenewald to third and Strouth made it back-to-back base knocks on an RBI single that plated Schoenewald and made it 5-0 Tech.
Virginia Tech will close out the ACC/Big Ten Challenge tomorrow with a 10 a.m. contest against Purdue.