[RV] Hokies wrap up Bulldog Classic with 4-1 win over UAB

ATHENS, Ga. – Keely Rochard tossed a three-hitter and Kelsey Bennett and Emma Strouth hit home runs, leading [RV] Virginia Tech softball to a 4-1 win over UAB on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium on the final day of the Bulldog Classic.

Rochard (8-2) had a no-hitter and shut out through four innings, but the Blazers (8-11) hit a double off the wall to get their lone run of the game. Strouth, who is leading the Hokies (16-3) with 20 RBIs, already topped last year's leader (19) after her two-run shot in the fourth inning.

Bennett, playing back in her home state, put together her second home run of the weekend, a no-doubter to left center in the fifth. The third baseman is now tied for the team lead in home runs, tying with shortstop Caitlyn Nolan with six apiece.

QUOTING OUTFIELDER EMMA STROUTH

On her approach in the box before her home run:
"My approach at the plate was swing the bat and swing it hard," Strouth said. "I didn't have my best weekend, so at that point I just went up there free swinging and that's what happened. 

"Off the bat it felt really good, but it was a line drive so I wasn't sure if it would actually make it up. After I rounded first, I saw that it was out."

On her takeaways from the weekend after going 3-1:
"It was a really good weekend for us," Strouth said. "We played some good competition and came out of it strong. We really fought against Georgia the first game. That was probably the best game I've played in since I've been at Tech, with just the competitiveness of it."

On if the team is excited to finally play at home this upcoming weekend:
"Oh yeah, that's going to be awesome," Strouth said. "It's going to be cold, but we are really excited because it's always great playing at home in front of our fans in that environment."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game started out as a pitcher's duel, with four combined three up, three down half innings the first three frames of play. But that all changed in the fourth inning, starting with a single down the third-base line by Bennett.

Pinch runner Kinsey Johnson came in for Bennett and got to stroll to home plate, watching Strouth hit a liner to left center to make it a 2-0 game. With a new pitcher in the circle, catcher Mackenzie Lawter singled up the middle and pinch-hitter Cana Davis earned a five-pitch walk, 

Outfielder Al Velazquez hit one to the warning track down the left-field line and saw the Blazers' left fielder come over and make a full-out catch into the wall, scoring Lawter for the sacrifice fly.

The three-run lead would be cut to two in the fifth inning, following a single to center field, breaking up Rochard's no-hitter, and then a double to left to knock in the Blazer and end the shut out.

But the Hokies responded in the bottom half, with Bennett hitting a moon shot that hit the top of the 40-foot trees behind the fence.

Rochard would follow in the sixth by forcing three fly outs and then get another fly out and two groundouts to second in the seventh to seal the victory.

NOTES

- Rochard finished with two strikeouts and no walks in 7.0 innings pitched on 76 pitches. It marks her fifth seven-inning game of the season, which have all been wins, and just her second outing in a complete game of not allowing a walk.

- Bennett had a team-high two hits on the day, marking her sixth game this season of having multiple hits. Her six home runs are the most by a freshman in the ACC and make her tied for fourth among all league players.

- Velazquez extended her hitting streak to six games, getting a hit in every contest at the Bulldog Classic, as well as Tech's midweek tilt on Wednesday versus Radford.

- The Hokies defensively did not make an error today, marking their ninth time this season of doing so. In those games, Tech is a perfect 9-0.

UP NEXT

- The Hokies will head back to Blacksburg awaiting their first time playing at home, starting on Friday in a three-game series with Georgia Tech (14-6) to kick off ACC play. The Hokies and Yellow Jackets have the next-most wins in the ACC after Florida State (19-0).