BLACKSBURG - Junior Olivia Lattin went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and freshman Keely Rochardallowed two earned runs with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work in Virginia Tech's 5-1 loss to Duke on Saturday in front of 539 at Tech Softball Park.
The loss for the Hokies (20-26, 6-13 ACC) evens up the three-game series with the Blue Devils (25-23, 9-11 ACC) and it snaps Tech's four-game win streak against ACC competition.
In a scoreless game in the bottom of the fifth, senior Jessie Mehr worked a one out walk and later moved to second on a groundout. With two down, senior Caroline Schoenewald chopped a ball that was bobbled by the second baseman and allowed both runners to reach safely. Lattin then stepped to the plate and sent a two-out double down the right field line, her 10th of the season, that put the Hokies on top, 1-0.
Duke loaded the bases with two down in the top of the sixth and was able to push all three runs across on a costly Tech error. They were holding on to their 3-1 lead entering the top of the seventh but they tacked on two more insurance runs on an RBI single and a groundout that drove in a run that made it 5-1.
The rubber match of the three-game series will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network EXTRA. Tech will honor its seniors with a ceremony before the game.