BLACKSBURG – After falling in Game 1 by two runs on Friday, the No. 24/19 Virginia Tech softball team responded with a run-rule victory Saturday over Louisville, 10-1, in five innings at Tech Softball Park.
The win by the Hokies (29-5, 9-2 ACC), their 11th run-rule win of the season, evens the series with the Cardinals (22-11, 4-4). The rubber match will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on WatchESPN.
Pitcher Keely Rochard (12-3) dueled a one-run complete game with seven strikeouts and only two walks. Third baseman Kelsey Bennett racked up four RBIs at the plate by going 2 for 3, including a three-run home run.
QUOTING PITCHER KEELY ROCHARD
On her command in the circle:
"I think I have gotten my rise ball back," Rochard said. "I'm trusting that more and just know to go right at it. When I try to work the ball and get it to the outside corner, it goes too far. So, I try not to force it and go right at it. I trust my spin to get it there and trust that I know I can get it there instead of trying to aim it there. That's been very helpful the last couple outings for me."
On what area she has been trying to attack in the zone:
"It depends on the batter, where they stand in the box and, when we watch film, what they can hit," Rochard said. "I can throw low or high, just depends. We factor in the batter, the count, etc."
On how big the rubber match is tomorrow:
"It's pretty crucial because we want to win the series," Rochard said. "We want to win all of our series. I think yesterday was an eye-opener for us, so I thought we did a good job of hitting today, especially with seeing three pitchers. As long as we keep focusing on hitting on top of the ball and do what we're supposed to do hitting and pitching wise, we'll be good."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After it was scoreless through an inning ½, the Hokies exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second. It all started with a leadoff home run by second baseman Jayme Bailey to left. Designated player Grace Chavez followed with a walk and catcher Mackenzie Lawter reached on an error.
With two on, one out, outfielder Al Velazquez singled to right center to load the bases for outfielder Darby Trull. Trull it a hard ground ball to short, scoring pinch runner Kinsey Johnson. Shortstop Caitlyn Nolan would walk, getting an RBI with Lawter scoring, and back-to-back RBI singles from outfielder Emma Strouth and Bennett made it a 5-0 ball game.
The Cards got one on the board in the top of the fourth, hitting a solo home run to left center to cut it to a four-run deficit. But Tech dropped five runs again in the bottom half.
Trull walked on four straight balls and Strouth reached on a fielder's choice, getting two runners on base for Bennett. On the second pitch she saw, Bennett lifted one to left field for the three-run bomb, getting Tech to within striking distance of the mercy rule at 8-1.
First baseman Meredith Slaw would come up to the plate with Bailey, who doubled, and Chavez, who singled, on the base paths. In a 0-1 count, Slaw roped a double to center for two RBIs to give Rochard the chance to seal the run-rule.
After a single and a strikeout to begin the fifth, Rochard allowed a liner to left but Strouth came in and dove, making the catch to get the second out of the inning and keep the runner at first. Rochard would get three straight strikes for the K on the next batter to finish it.
NOTES
- With its 11th run-rule victory of the season, it marked Tech's third versus a Power Five opponent. All three have come in ACC play – NC State on March 16 (12-1) and Pitt on March 23 (18-0).
- Rochard's five innings pitched marked her sixth game this season of pitching exactly five and she has shown consistency in those appearances, as her seven Ks mark that she has gotten at least seven strikeouts in all six five-inning outings, respectively.
- Bennett's home run was her team-leading 11th of the season, passing Nolan who has 10 on the year.
- Bailey and Velazquez, like Bennett, also had two hits apiece. Bailey now has eight multi-hit games and Velazquez has 12, the second most on the team.
Gallery: (3/30/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL vs. LOUISVILLE SATURDAY
