Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Strong offensive performances propelled Virginia Tech to a doubleheader sweep over Charlotte on Wednesday night at Tech Softball Park. The Hokies (15-20) took the first game, 6-4, and won the nightcap. 8-2.
Junior Caitlyn Nolan went 4 for 8 with a home run and seven RBI over the two games. Her four RBI in game two matched her career high set against Boston College as a freshman on March 20, 2016. Junior Emma Strouth tallied four hits and crossed the plate three times in the twin bill.
VIRGINIA TECH 8, CHARLOTTE 2
Nolan's four RBI game helped Tech complete the doubleheader sweep in the nightcap as she was one of three Hokies that registered multi-hit games in the 8-2 win.
Eberle earned the win after going 5.0 innings in the circle where she allowed one run on three hits and punched out seven. Freshman Jordan Dail notched her first career save.
Tech struck first in the second and third innings after freshman Sammi Miller scored on a fielder's choice from Nolan and Strouth scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Charlotte got a run back in the fourth on an RBI double that trimmed their deficit to one, 2-1, but the Hokies pushed across two runs on a throwing error that scored junior Breanna Davenport and an RBI single by Nolan.
After another RBI double for the 49ers made it 4-2 in the sixth, Tech posted a crooked number in the home half. An RBI double from Davenport, her second of the game, an RBI groundout from Miller and a double from Nolan that drove in two runs made it 8-2.
VIRIGNIA TECH 6, CHARLOTTE 4
Freshman Keely Rochard threw 6.2 innings to earn the win and sophomore Carrie Eberle earned her first save of the season in Tech's 6-4 win in Wednesday's opener over the 49ers.
Charlotte jumped on the board early with a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the first but the Hokies got a run back after Strouth broke for home from third base on a throw down to first on a strike three pitch that rolled to the backstop. Tech evened it up at 2-2 after junior Olivia Lattin's sacrifice fly brought home sophomore Taylor Clark from third base in the bottom of the second.
The go-ahead run came in the fourth inning on junior Sierra Walton's bases loaded walk that plated senior Caroline Schoenewald. Nolan's two run home run in the fifth and RBI single in the sixth broke things open for the Hokies as they took a 6-2 lead and never lost it.
The Hokies will next travel to North Carolina for a three-game set from April 6-8.