CHARLESTON, S.C. – Pitching her third shutout of the season, sophomore Keely Rochard struck out 10 Boilermakers while senior Emma Strouth turned in three extra-base hits, as the Virginia Tech softball team defeated Purdue 5-0 at Patriots Point to win the Cougar Classic on the campus of College of Charleston Sunday.
The Hokies (5-0) also got it done on the base paths, swiping a season-high seven steals against the Boilermakers (2-3). Purdue was led by shortstop Rachel Becker, who posted a team-best two hits.
Two other Hokies had multi-hit performances, including sophomore Al Velazquez and senior Lauren Duff. Strouth registered one of the best games of her career, collecting the team's first triple of the season and two doubles on her way to a game-high three RBIs.
QUOTING COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On the balanced attack put on display:
"The pitching was good, we had clutch hits and played good defense," D'Amour said. "All three aspects were really good today and we stole a bunch of bases. So, it was a good day all around."
On how much confidence the team will have going into the next tournament:
"They should have a lot," D'Amour said. "But I told them after the game, and they understand this, that this weekend is over. We need to have a good week of practice and be ready to play on Friday."
On the weekend in the circle and shortstop Caitlyn Nolan's approach at the plate:
"Keely [Rochard] is just a fighter, is around the strike zone all the time, doesn't' get rattled and goes right after kids," D'Amour said. "She had a good weekend and Carrie [Eberle] did, too. She threw strikes. She's got an issue with her hand, but she battled through it and had no complaints. I'm proud of both.
"[Caitlyn Nolan] is the one kid that really has truly bought in since Day 1, with the drill work, preparation and practice," D'Amour said. "They all do a good job of coming in, but she's kind of different in a way. In her approach, she sees the ball well, swings the bat in counts she should swing the bat in and takes balls. She's on fire right now."
(2/10/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL OPENERS / COUGAR CLASSIC
RECAP
Another game, another leadoff hit for Tech in the first inning as Velazquez hit a rocket back to the pitcher, marking the fifth straight game the Hokies opened with a leadoff hit. Sophomore Darby Trull walked on four straight pitches and Strouth roped a double to center, driving in Velazquez and advancing Trull to third.
Next up, on her birthday, was Nolan who hit a ball deep to center field to earn the sacrifice fly and push Trull across the plate to make 2-0.
In the following inning, Velazquez walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up Trull to hit her first double of the season to left center and get Velazquez home. On the second pitch of the next at-bat, Strouth hit her second straight double, this time to left center, scoring Trull.
Again, Velazquez led off an inning and got a base knock, hitting it through third base and shortstop in the fourth. The Colorado native would steal and then get to home after a triple by Strouth for Tech's final run of the game.
In the sixth, the Boilermakers put the pressure on, loading the bases with two outs with their four-hitter, Madison Douglas, up to bat. On the first pitch, Rochard induced a pop up to third, as freshman Kelsey Bennett made the catch.
The final inning saw Rochard deal two strikeouts to begin the frame and ending it with a pop up to herself for the final out.
NOTES
- Rochard (3-0) has yet to give up a run, owning an impressive 0.00 ERA through 19.0 innings. The Williamsburg, Virginia native is up to 30 Ks on the year and has only surrendered three walks and two hit by pitches. She also has yet to give up an extra-base hit.
- Strouth's triple was the ninth of her career and her two doubles marked that she's only one away from tying last year's mark of five. Her three hits were her most since April 25, 2017, versus Western Carolina.
- Six Hokies recorded a steal in the game, including Velazquez, Trull, Nolan, Bennett, Stacy Kalt and Maddi Banks, who stole twice (second and third). The seven steals topped last year's previous high of three, which was done twice.
- With the 5-0 record, it marks only the fourth time in school history (24 seasons) Tech has won its first five games.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will head back to the Palmetto State once again this upcoming weekend, with a trip to USC Upstate's campus for the Upstate Classic from Feb. 15-17, taking on four teams in the five-game tournament.