Hokie ClubCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Sophomore Carrie Eberle went 2 for 4 at the plate with two home runs and allowed no earned runs in a complete game effort in the circle as Virginia Tech topped Virginia, 6-2, in the first game of this weekend's Commonwealth Clash, presented by Virginia529.
Eberle's six home runs on the season and eight wins in the circle both lead the Hokies (17-24, 3-12 ACC). Junior Caitlyn Nolan reached base in all four plate appearances where she went 2 for 2 with an RBI double. Nolan also tied the program record with nine assists in the field, a feat that was last done by Eberle earlier this season against Notre Dame on March 30.
Senior Breanna Davenport reached on error by the third baseman in the top of the second and later moved to second on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from freshman Cana Davis. Nolan then stepped to the plate and knocked a base hit through the left side. The ball was booted by the left fielder and it allowed Davenport to score, giving the Hokies a 1-0 lead.
After Eberle tossed a 1-2-3 home half of the second inning, she came to the plate with two outs in the top of the third and sent the first pitch she saw over the center field fence that extended the Hokies advantage to 2-0.
Eberle received more help in the top of the fourth when senior Caroline Schoenewald drew a bases loaded walk and junior Emma Strouth lifted a sac fly to left field that scored senior Whitney Metz from third and made it 4-0 Tech.
The 'Hoos pushed two runs across in the bottom of the sixth that cut their deficit to two, 4-2, but Eberle led off the seventh with her second solo blast of the night that made it 5-2. Nolan made it 6-2 Hokies on an RBI double that plated freshman Mackenzie Lawter from second base.
With bad weather in the forecast on Sunday, Tech and UVA will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow that will wrap up the series.