TAMPA, Fla. – [RV] Virginia Tech softball's opponents did their damage in the fourth inning on Friday, scoring a combined 20 runs in the frame to deal the Hokies two losses at the USF-Rawlings Invitational to end their unblemished record.
In the first game at USF Softball Stadium, [RV] Texas State (6-4), trailing 3-0 to the Hokies (9-2), scored 14 runs in the fourth inning to win 17-5 in five innings. In the second matchup of the day, USF (5-6) tallied six runs in the fourth, erasing a two-run Tech lead, to win 7-2.
Pitcher Keely Rochard's (5-1) shutout streak came to an end, lasting 34.1 innings to start the season, as well as her first loss, while fellow pitcher Carrie Eberle (4-1) took her first loss, too.
Outfielder Darby Trull racked up a team-high three hits combined in the two games, including an inside-the-park home run against the Bulls in the third inning.
GAME 1
Tech got off to a fast start versus the Bobcats, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. It marked the eighth time this season it has done so and tied the second-most runs scored in the opening frame of the season.
Outfielder Al Velazquez kicked it off with a single to left field and Trull hit one to the shortstop and beat it out for the infield single. Shortstop Caitlyn Nolan earned a seven-pitch walk, loading up the bases for Strouth with one out.
The senior took a first-pitch fastball and hit it to right field, driving in Velazquez and Trull. Third baseman Kelsey Bennett turned in a single off a bunt to score Nolan on the ensuing at-bat.
Rochard was dealing through the first three innings, causing three groundouts, five popups and a strikeout. But the fourth frame was a different story, filled with walks and hit by pitches.
Freshman Mara Strum came in for relief, making her first-ever appearance collegiately. She fired two quick strikes, but the batter would reach base on an error. Followed by more of the same with base on balls, Texas State tallied 14 runs off of two hits and one error in the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, pinch-hitter Grace Chavez drilled a home run to center field, the first of her career, getting Stacy Kalt to cross the plate, who got on with a walk and would steal second. But Tech did not score anymore in the frame for its first run-rule loss of the season.
GAME 2
Once again jumping out to an early lead, catcher Mackenzie Lawter collected a hit by pitch, getting on base for Trull. Trull, who was coming off hitting her first homer last weekend, did it in different fashion on Friday, lining to center field and seeing the centerfielder dive but come up short, then proceeding to hit the jets and touch all of the bases for the second HR of her career.
The 2-0 lead would be short lived, as the following inning saw the Bulls score six runs off of five hits and an error.
Tech's next-best chance to cut into the lead was in the top of the fifth inning with one out. Second baseman Maddi Banks singled through the right side, Velazquez drew a four-pitch walk and Trull hit a hard grounder to short, getting on safely. With the bases loaded, Tech couldn't get the three runners in, and would go down in order the next two innings.
NOTES
- Rochard's 34.1 innings of shutout ball was the longest by anybody in Division I softball this season.
- Chavez became the ninth player on the team to hit a home run this year, and her two-run shot was the team's fourth to center field.
- The deficits marked only the second and third time this season that the Hokies have trailed in a game. They were down 3-1 to ETSU in the second inning on Feb. 17 and would come back and win 8-3.
- Strum would finish with the first strikeout of her career, pitching 1.1 innings.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will be back at it on Saturday, taking on Georgia State (1-9) at 10 a.m. ET and Texas State once again, this time at 12:30 p.m.
