Hokie ClubATLANTA - After an upset of the No. 7 seed Duke yesterday, No. 10 Virginia Tech nearly got by second-seeded Pitt but the Panthers were able to walk-off in the seventh with a 6-4 victory to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Softball Championship on Thursday evening at Mewborn Field.
The Hokies (23-30) led through the first 6.1 innings but Pitt (32-17) put together a five-run bottom of the seventh inning that included a game-winning grand slam. Carrie Eberle took the loss for the Hokies despite throwing five hitless innings and striking out five. Caitlyn Nolan and Taylor Clark hit home runs for Tech and Caroline Schoenewald and Jessie Mehr registered multi-hit games.
After four shutout and no-hit innings for Eberle, Nolan led off the top of the fifth with her fifth home run of the season, putting the Hokies in front, 1-0. Clark then gave the Hokies more breathing room in the top of the sixth with a three-run home run to left center that extended the lead to 4-0.
Eberle's no-hitter was broken up in the bottom half of the sixth and Pitt capitalized on a throwing error by Nolan with two out and a runner on third. Tech was holding on to a 4-1 lead entering the home half of the seventh when Pitt plated another run on a bases loaded walk with one out to cut it to two, 4-2. The next batter then delivered the walk-off grand slam that pushed the Panthers through to the semis.
Virginia Tech returns seven starters from this year's team, including Eberle, a second-team All-ACC selection. The Hokies, whose 11 newcomers tied for the most in the ACC this season, will also returns a number of key position players and two freshmen pitcher in Keely Rochard and Jordan Dail.