BLACKSBURG – Timely hitting once again carried No. 24/19 Virginia Tech softball to a run-rule victory over Louisville, 13-5 (6), at Tech Softball Park on Sunday, getting the rubber match for its fourth straight ACC series to its name.
The Hokies (30-5, 10-2 ACC) racked up four home runs on the day by four different players, while pitcher Keely Rochard (13-3) got her second win of the series. The sophomore finished with eight strikeouts and gave up five hits and five earned runs.
Outfielders Al Velazquez and Emma Strouth, shortstop Caitlyn Nolan and catcher Mackenzie Lawter all went deep off of Cardinals (22-12, 4-5) pitcher Danielle Watson (7-9). Watson, who got the win over Tech on Friday in the circle, surrendered 11 hits and 11 earned runs.
QUOTING HEAD COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On battling back 0-1 in the series to winning it 2-1 over the weekend:
"We learned some things on Friday and made the adjustments on Saturday and Sunday," Tech coach Pete D'Amour said. "Their pitcher (Danielle) Watson, who threw against us on Friday, we didn't do very well against her. Then today, we had better at-bats. Losses are going to come, the key is learning from them, and I'm proud of the team for the way they reacted after the loss on Friday."
On pitcher Keely Rochard getting two wins in the circle during the series:
"Keely's (Rochard) velocity has been a lot better than it has been," D'Amour said. "Her rise was a little bit tighter and her changeup is getting over the plate. She's throwing pretty well right now."
On if he's happy owning a 10-2 record at the midway point of ACC play:
"Yeah, it's just been a continuation of what we've been doing all year," D'Amour said. "I didn't know it was halfway through, but we just got to keep doing what we're doing and not take anybody lightly."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Rochard made the Cards go three up, three down, the Hokies plated five runners in the bottom of the first. Velazquez and outfielder Darby Trull earned walks to begin the frame, then second baseman Jayme Bailey singled to center field to load the bases with no outs.
Third baseman Kelsey Bennett hit one down the first-base line, driving in Velazquez and Trull. With Bailey and Bennett on the base paths, Nolan fouled off three pitches in a row and then delivered a three-run home run to left center to give Tech a 5-0 lead after one.
The second frame was highlighted by Trull, who made two SportsCenter Top-10 plays in center field. The first one was a bloop that she came in on, sliding and making the catch. The second out came in similar fashion, but this one was a rope to right center and Trull sprinted a little in and to her left, diving all out and making the full-extension catch.
In the third inning, Rochard got in the zone and fired three straight strikeouts, striking out the side on all swinging Ks. In the bottom half, the Hokies scored six runs to take an 11-0 advantage. Bennett led off the inning with a four-pitch walk, then was pinch ran for by senior Kinsey Johnson, who stole second.
Johnson would be brought in by Nolan off an RBI single to left, then catcher Mackenzie Lawter took the first pitch over the wall in left center for a two-run shot. The next batter, Velazquez, would do the same by hitting a homer for the back-to-back jacks.
The Hokies would add on two more, getting a hard-hit ball by Strouth to the third baseman, whose glove touched the ball and scooted away into the infield, allowing Bailey and Trull to score.
Louisville responded, though, in the top of the fourth by getting four runs on the board. Then in the top of the sixth, it would tack on one more with a solo home run.
After losing the run-rule opportunity in the fifth, the Hokies would make it reality in the sixth with a two-run walk-off homer to center by Strouth to claim it.
STAT OF THE GAME
- With its second straight run-rule victory, it marked the first time since April 11, 2009, that Tech run-ruled an ACC opponent in consecutive games. That instance was a doubleheader against Boston College in Blacksburg, as Tech won 14-6 (6) in Game 1 and 9-1 (6) in Game 2.
TWEET OF THE GAME
We hit four home runs today 💪
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) March 31, 2019
Here is outfielder Al Velazquez's ( @_Al_Velazquez_) oppo shot#ThisIsHome | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/tPS1UkIIwU
NOTES
- Rochard sure has had a knack for striking out the side this season, totaling 14 times this spring of doing so. Her third inning of three Ks in a row today marked her fourth time doing it in ACC play.
- The Hokies, after hitting four home runs today, have now had nine games this year of hitting three or more in a contest. Tech is a perfect 9-0 when doing so.
- The back-to-back homers in the third inning marked the fifth time this season Tech had two batters in a row hit the long ball.
- Nolan finished 2 for 3 at the plate with a team-high four RBIs, while Trull and Bailey also had two hits on the day. Nolan's home run ties her for the team lead with Bennett on the season with 11.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will not play a midweek, taking on Duke (17-19, 8-4) this weekend in a three-game series in Durham, North Carolina.
Gallery: (3/31/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL vs. LOUISVILLE SUNDAY