PITTSBURGH – Sweeping its opponent for the second straight weekend, the No. 24 Virginia Tech softball team defeated Pitt 10-2 on Sunday at Vartabedian Field.
The Hokies (27-4, 8-1 ACC) were paced by outfielder Al Velazquez and third baseman Kelsey Bennett at the plate, with both hitting home runs in the first inning and finishing with two hits and three RBIs apiece. In the circle, Keely Rochard (11-3) pitched a complete game, giving up only three hits on her way to tying a career-high 13 strikeouts.
With the victory over the Panthers (4-25, 1-8), it marked the first time since 2012 that Tech swept two ACC teams on the road in a row (NC State on March 24-25 and Maryland on March 31-April 1).
QUOTING HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On how the team did the weekend:
"It was a well-rounded series for us," Tech coach Pete D'Amour said. "Our hitters were able to adjust to different pitchers that they faced quickly. Carrie (Eberle) threw well yesterday and Keely was on both games. It's difficult to sweep any conference series, especially on the road, and we've done that the last two weeks. We're looking forward to being home next week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
On the third pitch of the game, Velazquez hit the second home run of her career, a leadoff shot to center field. Then outfielder Emma Strouth walked on four pitches, stole second and would be knocked in by Bennett off a two-run homer to right center.
The Panthers answered, though, hitting a two-run home run off Rochard to cut their deficit to one. It would be their lone extra-base hit of the game.
With two runners on, designated player Grace Chavez hit a stand-up double to right center, knocking in pinch runner Kinsey Johnson and Strouth in the top of the third. The next at-bat, catcher Mackenzie Lawter got a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Bailey, and then second baseman Maddi Banks hit a bloop single to center to score Chavez for the four-run frame.
In the fourth, outfielder Darby Trull got on with a bunt that went by the pitcher and first baseman on the right side, then shortstop Caitlyn Nolan got hit by a pitch. After moving over a base, Trull scored off sac fly by Bennett to right.
Tech would add on two more runs in the seventh, starting with a leadoff double down the left-field line from Bailey and Lawter getting a single through the left side. Then Velazquez came through with two-run double, pulling it down the right field-line.
Rochard got the last three outs via two strikeouts and a flyout to center.
NOTES
- Rochard has now had five games of striking out 10 or more batters. The sophomore did it twice this past week, with her getting 11 Ks versus Binghamton last Tuesday and 13 today.
- The first inning has been a fun one for Tech the whole season, outscoring its opponents 37-5. Today, it scored three runs thanks to two homers. When the Hokies score first, they are 26-2.
- Four Hokies finished with two multi-hit games, including Velazquez, Bennett, Chavez and Banks. Three players had a double in Velazquez, Bennett and Chavez. The last time Tech had four or more doubles in a game was versus then-No. 8 Georgia on March 1 when it had five.
- Over the weekend, Tech outhit Pitt 37-11 and committed zero errors to the Panthers' two.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will be in a rematch on Wednesday with Radford (11-8, 3-3 Big South) at Tech Softball Park at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Earlier this year on Feb. 27, each teams' first midweek contest, Tech came away with a 10-0 victory in five innings at Radford.
