TAMPA, Fla. – Both pitchers, Keely Rochard and Carrie Eberle, shined on Saturday by pitching shutouts in [RV] Virginia Tech softball's wins over Georgia State, 6-0, and [RV] Texas State, 10-0 in six innings, on Day 2 of the USF-Rawlings Invitational at the USF Softball Stadium.
While the pitchers had their A-game in the circle, three freshmen had it at the plate, as Kelsey Bennett hit two home runs and Grace Chavez and Meredith Slaw each hit a homer. Senior Emma Strouth racked up five hits in the two games, including a home run herself.
The Hokies (11-2) got off to a fast start in the first game versus the Panthers (1-11), scoring four runs in the first three innings to give Rochard (6-1) more than enough of a cushion, with her picking up her Division I-leading sixth shutout of the season. Tech again started strong in the second matchup with the Bobcats (6-6), revenging yesterday's loss with a run-rule win behind Eberle's (5-1) second shutout this year.
QUOTING THIRD BASEMAN KELSEY BENNETT
On when she knew the first home run was gone:
"When I was rounding first," Bennett smiled. "Because everybody else's balls were being caught deep and I didn't think I hit it as well as I did. So, when I rounded first I was like, 'Okay, it's over the fence.'"
On what happened during the second home run:
"Honestly, my mind was clear the whole game," Bennett said. "I guess something clicked. But the second one I did not think it was going over. I didn't think I got enough of it because I didn't think I hit it that well. I was watching the center fielder the whole way and she just kept going back and I was like, 'Dang, I must have gotten all of that one, too.'"
On if her play at the plate translates to playing defense after making some nice plays:
"Not really because if I have a bad at-bat, I don't want to carry that to the field," Bennett explained. "So, I just kind of separate them whenever I play. I like to field balls more than I hit, so I rather field than hit. But I do keep them separated when I play."
GAME 1
Scoring in the first inning for the ninth time this season, Chavez took a full-count pitch to straight away center for her second home run in as many days.
The third inning saw back-to-back singles from Strouth and Bennett, scoring outfielder Al Velazquez and pinch-runner Kinsey Johnson. Then a wild pitch allowed Strouth to cross the plate for a three-run inning.
Second baseman Maddi Banks began the fourth inning with a nine-pitch walk, then would steal second and later score on an infield single by outfielder Darby Trull, marking Trull's 11th RBI of the season.
Tech would add on one more run in the top of the seventh, as Strouth ripped a homer to left center, her second of the year, to give Rochard a six-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Rochard struck out the first batter and induced two fly outs to preserve the shutout. She finished with a four-hitter, striking out nine batters and an impressive zero walks on 101 pitches against Georgia State.
GAME 2
Strouth and Bennett got on to begin the second versus Texas State with singles, and were knocked in one by one from first baseman Jayme Bailey on a double to center and Eberle, who in her first at-bat of the season, singled to left. Velazquez grounded out to second later in the inning, but it would score Bailey to give Tech a 3-0 lead.
The following frame, designated player Cana Davis earned a hit for the first time since opening day on Feb. 8, and Strouth earned an eight-pitch walk. Bennett then ripped her first home run of the day to left field, hitting the top of the batting cage well beyond the outfield fence, driving in Strouth for a two-run HR.
In the fifth, the Georgia native did it again, homering to center and driving in Strouth. But the Hokies weren't done yet, as pinch-hitter Meredith Slaw ripped a first-pitch fastball to deep right field in the sixth, scoring Eberle, who got on with a walk. Nolan would slice a shin-high pitch to right center, scoring pinch-runner Stacy Kalt for Tech's 10th run of the game.
Eberle would come back in the circle in the bottom of the sixth, getting two strikeouts to claim her fifth win of the season. The North Carolina native concluded with five strikeouts, surrendering six hits and one walk on 88 pitches.
NOTES
- The last time a Tech freshman belted two home runs in the same game was on April 30, 2016, when Lauren Duff did it versus in-state rival Virginia. Bennett's accomplishment marks the ninth time in school history a freshman has accomplished the feat.
- With Bennett's two home runs, she now has a team-high three HRs on the season, while Chavez, Slaw and Strouth join Nolan and Trull with all owning two homers this season.
- The 10 runs scored in the Texas State game marked the fifth time this season the Hokies have scored in double digits. Tech scored 10-plus runs only twice last season.
- In the two games combined, a total of 13 innings, Eberle and Rochard combined to give up only 10 hits to 51 batters faced, while striking out 14.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will wrap up the USF-Rawlings Invitational on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET in a rematch with Georgia State.
