Hokie ClubLYNCHBURG, Va. - Despite a start from freshman Keely Rochard that saw her allow only one earned run and strike out seven in 4.2 innings of work, Virginia Tech was unable to hold on to an early lead as the Hokies fell to Liberty, 6-3, on Tuesday night.
Rochard took the loss for the Hokies (19-25) and retired 10 in a row at one point between the first and fourth innings. Junior Emma Strouth went 2 for 3 with a run scored and freshman Cana Davis had an RBI single.
Senior Caroline Schoenewald led off the top of the first with a base hit that extended her reached base streak to seven games. She moved to second on her 12th stolen base of the season and took third after the throw down from the catcher got away into centerfield.
The next two Hokies would ground out but junior Sierra Walton pulled a hard hit chopper to third that was bobbled and gave Walton enough time to reach first base safely. Schoenewald was able to score on the error and it put the Hokies ahead, 1-0.
After Liberty knotted up the score on a solo home run in the bottom of the first, Rochard had a bounce back inning in the second where she struck out the final two batters of the inning.
Tech was able to load the bases in the top of the third on a walk from Strouth, a double from Carrie Eberle and a walk from Walton. That brought Davis to the plate and she dropped a single into left field that scored Strouth. With the bases still loaded, an error on the third baseman made it 3-1 Hokies after an errant throw home allowed pinch runner Whitney Metz to score.
Liberty went ahead in the bottom of the fifth on a grand slam, 5-3, and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth that made it 6-3. Thanks to strong relief pitching, the Flames were able to tame the Hokies' bats and hold on to the win.
Tech returns to action this weekend as they take on Duke from April 20-22 at Tech Softball Park.