BLACKSBURG – Following a 6-0 week, the No. 24/19 Virginia Tech softball team will play host to Radford on Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m. ET at Tech Softball Park.
The Hokies (27-4, 8-1 ACC) and Highlanders (11-18, 3-3 Big South) meet up for the second time this season, with Tech beating Radford 10-0 in five innings on Feb. 27 in Radford, Virginia. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on WatchESPN with Billy Parvatam on the call.
The series between the two clubs is in Tech's favor, 41-13. Radford did win in Blacksburg last year, though, a 4-0 win on Feb. 28, 2018.
MIDWEEK SCHEDULE
Wed. | 6 p.m. vs. Radford | Stats | Watch
The last time out, the Hokies swept their second ACC opponent on the road in a row for the first time since 2012 (NC State on March 24-25 and Maryland on March 31-April 1). Tech shined at the plate at Pitt (4-25, 1-8), outhitting the Panthers 37-11 and outscoring them 37-3.
Catcher Mackenzie Lawter hit Tech's second grand slam of the season and also hit two home run in the same inning. Keely Rochard (11-3) tied a career-high 13 strikeouts in the series finale on Sunday, marking her fifth time this season of owning 10 or more Ks in a game.
Tech is fourth nationally in home runs per game (1.74) and sixth in batting average (.353). Carrie Eberle (16-1) has the fourth-most wins in the circle in the country and Keely Rochard ranks second in the nation with seven shutouts.
Earlier today, the Hokies came in at No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll, marking their first time being ranked in the poll this season. They also moved up five spots in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, sitting at No. 19 – their highest ranking in the poll since March 20, 2013.
SCOUTING RADFORD
Record: 11-18 (3-3 Big South)
Head coach: Hope Creasy (47-47, 2nd season)
All-time series: Tech leads 41-13
The Highlanders play tonight against Virginia (16-13, 5-4 ACC) in Radford, Virginia at 6 p.m. They are coming off a 2-1 series win over Gardner Webb (18-11, 1-2 Big South) this past weekend, as well as a 1-1 split in a doubleheader versus Norfolk State (14-12, 2-1 MEAC) last Wednesday at home.