TAMPA, Fla. – A two-run home run by Mackenzie Lawter and a combined two-hitter from Carrie Eberle and Keely Rochard led [RV] Virginia Tech's softball team to a 5-1 victory over Georgia State on the final day of the USF-Rawlings Invitational Sunday.
The fifth game of the weekend for the Hokies (12-2) at USF Softball Stadium was similar to the first matchup with the Panthers (1-13), which took place on a Saturday, a 6-0 Tech win. The Hokies once again limited Georgia State's batters to less than five hits, allowing two hits today and four yesterday.
Tech recorded exactly 10 hits for the second straight game versus the Panthers, with outfielder Darby Trull leading the way with a team-high three hits and one RBI. Fellow outfielder Al Velazquez also tallied a multi-hit game, recording two singles.
Eberle pitched the first four innings, allowing two hits and one earned one, while striking out two batters and forcing eight ground outs. Rochard, who earned her first save of the season, entered the circle in the fifth inning with a two-run lead and kept the slate clean, not allowing a hit and striking out four batters in three innings pitched.
QUOTING HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On how the team responded after losing twice on Friday:
"They came down to earth a little bit on Friday," Virginia Tech coach Pete D'Amour said. "The preparation, we talk about that a lot, was better the last two days. They were ready to play by having better warmups, BP (batting practice) and infield-outfield. We just didn't see that on Friday. So, when we do those things, we got a chance to be pretty good, but when we don't, anybody can beat us."
On how the pitching got stronger each game this weekend:
"The preparation was better, with being ready to pitch," D'Amour said. "They threw strikes and gave our defense a chance."
On the team hitting at least one home run a game at the tournament:
"We don't preach hitting home runs, but they are results of hitting balls hard," D'Amour said. "Truth be told, it was a big park we played in and we hit seven this weekend, and it could've been a lot more at another park. But we were on time, hit the ball hard and the ball would go out every once in a while."
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the top of the first inning, the Panthers put the pressure on, getting two base runners on after two Tech errors. But Eberle dug deep and got the next three outs, with two ground outs and a diving catch at first base by Jayme Bailey.
The bottom half of the inning saw more of the same, as Tech got base runners on by loading the bases with singles by Velazquez and Trull, followed by a seven-pitch walk from designated player Cana Davis. However, like Georgia State, the Hokies couldn't knock in any runners on the next three at-bats.
Bailey walked to begin the bottom of the second and on a 1-2 count, Lawter lifted one to left center, getting Tech's first two runs of the game. The next frame, the Panthers got their first run on the board, loading up the bases and getting an RBI ground out to third base. With two runners on, Eberle got a strikeout looking to get out of it.
In the fourth, second baseman Maddi Banks earned a base on balls, stole second and was driven in by Trull, who picked up her 12th RBI of the season.
Tech's final two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Lauren Duff hit a liner that hit off the shortstop's glove, scoring outfielder Emma Strouth, who got on with a single to the short stop as well. Pinch-hitter Grace Chavez grounded out to second base, but scored pinch-runner Stacy Kalt.
In the top of the seventh, Rochard made Georgia State go three up, three down with a pop up, strike out and ground out.
STAT OF THE GAME
- Tech outhit the Panthers by eight hits (10-2), marking the ninth time this year it has outhit its opponent by eight or more. It is 9-0 in those games when doing so.
NOTES
- After four Hokies hit their second home run of the season on Saturday, Lawter joined the party with her second homer this year, joining Strouth, Trull, Chavez, Kelsey Bennett (3), Meredith Slaw and Caitlyn Nolan.
- In the Hokies last three games, Eberle and Rochard have only given up 12 hits to 80 batters faced.
- Kalt pinch ran and stole her seventh base of the season, a team high, while Banks swiped her sixth bag of the year, the second-most on the team.
- With Tech's four stolen bases on the day, Strouth and pinch-runner Kinsey Johnson each swiped one, too, it marks the second-most in a game this season, trailing when it stole seven versus Purdue on Feb. 10.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will play next in the New River Valley, taking on Radford (5-5) at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Radford Softball Stadium.
