RALEIGH, N.C. – Tying a school-record five home runs on Saturday, the No. 25 Virginia Tech softball team powered past NC State, 12-1, in five innings at Dail Stadium.
Outfielder Darby Trull led the way at the plate, owning three hits, including a home run, three RBIs and a walk.
Fellow outfielder Emma Strouth hit the Hokies' (20-4, 4-1 ACC) first grand slam of the year, while in the circle, pitcher Carrie Eberle (12-1) threw a three-hitter and allowed just one run in 5.0 innings of work.
With the win over the Wolfpack (16-10, 0-2), Tech clinched its second straight ACC series for the first time since 2016 when it took down Boston College (March 18-20) and Georgia Tech (March 25-26) in consecutive weeks.
QUOTING HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On what was the key ingredient for the team's success:
"Disciplined at-bats, that was big" coach Pete D'Amour said. "And getting what we are looking for and not missing it. Emma [Strouth] came up and was looking for a particular pitch, she got it and hit one out. We preach that all the time with sticking with your approach regardless of what the count is, and in that case, it happened and it worked."
On pitcher Carrie Eberle coming in for relief and her performance:
"Carrie [Eberle] did a good job, and it's not that I didn't have any faith in Keely [Rochard], she's more of a fly-ball pitcher and the wind was blowing out, but Carrie keeps the ball lower, with getting more ground balls," D'Amour said. "So, it was just a gut feeling to make the change. We brought Carrie in and she felt fresh and did a good job."
On the defense making some plays:
"It was clean defense in the infield," D'Amour said. "Kelsey [Bennett] made a lot of good plays today. The thing with her is some of those plays are not easy and she makes them look easy. She had a good day, too."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game began with Tech getting three straight walks from State's pitcher Devin Wallace (7-6), who would be pulled for Sydney Nester (8-3). With the bases loaded, Nester threw a first-pitch fastball and Strouth sent it to straight-away center for the grand slam, setting the tone for more long balls to follow.
Similar to the Pack, the Hokies would make a pitching change with no outs in the bottom of the first, as pitcher Keely Rochard (8-3) walked her first two batters. With two runners on, Eberle would induce a ground ball to the shortstop, watching Caitlyn Nolan throw it to second baseman Maddi Banks, who fired it to first for the 6-4-3 double play caught by first baseman Jayme Bailey. Eberle got the next batter out on a grounder to Bennett playing third to get out of the inning unscathed.
The second inning started with a home run by Banks, who slapped the ball to left center for her second homer of the season. Outfielder Al Velazquez followed with a single and Trull lifted one to center for the two-run shot.
Then Bennett singled and Bailey went opposite field with a two-run home run to right, giving Tech a 9-0 lead. The bottom half saw the Pack get a double with the batter advancing to third on a throwing error. That runner would score after a grounder to the middle infield.
The next two innings the Hokies would go down quietly before they tacked on some more in the top of the fifth. Designated player Lauren Duff singled to center to kick things off and would be pinch ran for by Kinsey Johnson. Pinch hitter Grace Chavez, on the first pitch, hit a home run to left to add on two more runs.
Velazquez reached first on a fielding error and Trull roped a ball to center, running all the way to third for her first triple of the season to score Velazquez for Tech's final run at 11.
Eberle would get two groundouts and a lineout to center in the final frame to claim it.
Gallery: (3/16/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL at NC STATE GAME 2
STAT OF THE GAME
- The last time Tech hit five home runs in a game was on April 30, 2016, versus Virginia when it slugged five in the first game of a doubleheader.
- Ironically, a grand slam took place in that game, too, with Kelsey Mericka hitting a four-run shot. The five home runs marked the third time in school history that's happened, and today marked the first time ever doing it on the road.
NOTES
- Tech now has five games this year of hitting three or more home runs. It also passes last year's home run total of 35, with now owning 38 on the year.
- Trull wasn't the only Hokie to have a multi-hit day, as Bennett turned in two hits. Bennett's two hits mark her seventh multi-hit game of the season and Trull's ninth. Trull is currently tied with Strouth for the team lead.
- Eberle, who pitched on Friday against the Pack, only threw 52 pitches in an efficient outing on her way to 11 groundouts and a strikeout. She finished with no walks, marking her fourth game this year of not surrendering a walk (minimum 5.0 innings).
- The Hokies outhit State 11-3 for their 16th time this season of outhitting their opponent. They are a perfect 16-0 in those games.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will wrap up their three-game series with the Pack on Sunday at noon ET. The final game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
