BLACKSBURG – A pitchers' duel and a slugfest highlighted games two and three of No. 22/20 Virginia Tech softball's two wins over in-state rival Virginia, earning the three-game sweep on Saturday at Tech Softball Park.
In front of 1,321 fans, the sixth-most all-time at TSP, the Hokies (37-6, 16-2 ACC) put together two shutouts behind the arms of pitchers Carrie Eberle (21-3) and Keely Rochard (16-3), winning the first game 1-0 and the second 7-0 versus the Cavaliers (16-25, 5-13).
With the two shutouts, it marks the first time in school history that Tech did not allow a run in a three-game series with an opponent, following its 8-0 run-rule win in five innings Friday night. To go one step further, Tech did not allow a UVA runner to get to third base in the three games, and in the second game of a doubleheader versus No. 20/17 JMU, marking four straight games.
The bats were rolling in the second game, as Tech racked up nine hits with outfielder Al Velazquez and third baseman Kelsey Bennett getting two apiece and catcher Mackenzie Lawter and pinch hitter Meredith Slaw each hitting a home run.
The series win gave the Hokies one point in the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529. The Tech-UVA softball game was presented by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of Virginia Tech Athletics and the University of Virginia Athletics. The score for the "Commonwealth Clash" is 8.5-6.5 in favor of Virginia Tech. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at www.thecommonwealthclash.com.
QUOTING PITCHER CARRIE EBERLE
On pitching two of the three shutouts and how she had her A-game this weekend:
"This weekend I really got ahead in a lot of counts," Eberle said. "I also mixed my pitches a lot more because of that, which was a good way to keep them off balance. It gave me a chance to do some things that I've been working on in practice that I haven't implemented into games yet. So, it was good to see the progress out on the field."
On with a good amount of Virginia's players facing her for the third year in a row and how that made her switch it up:
"For sure, yeah," Eberle said. "I have pitched to a lot of those girls since I was a freshman. They know what I have (laughing). So, I tried throwing something different at them. I think that helped keep them guessing."
On beating a rival:
"Coming from a Hokie family, any time you can beat UVA is pretty great," Eberle grinned. "It's definitely a good feeling and keeps us on the right track. It was a good weekend overall."
GAME 2 – VT 1, UVA 0
Rochard allowed a hit to the leadoff batter in the first inning, and then after that was absolutely lights out, getting 21 batters out in a row. The sophomore finished with a one-hitter, striking out eight with no walks.
So, though she didn't get a perfect game, like on Wednesday versus No. 20/17 JMU, she was darn close as she has now retired 36 of her last 37 batters faced.
At the plate, Tech tallied six hits with six players getting one apiece. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth, starting with Lawter reaching first base off an infielder's error.
Outfielder Darby Trull singled through the left side, moving Lawter to second. In a 1-2 count, catcher Lauren Duff singled up the middle, knocking in the would-be game-winning run with Lawter crossing the plate.
Tech looked to add some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting back-to-back singles from outfielder Emma Strouth and Bennett. But couldn't plate them, giving Rochard a one-run lead heading into the top of the seventh.
Rochard struck the first two batters out, both swinging, and induced a fly out to center as Trull made the catch to claim the series.
GAME 3 – VT 7, UVA 0
Picking up where Rochard left off, Eberle got two strikeouts and a pop up to begin the series finale. Kicking off the bottom half, Velazquez sent a laser to center and would advance to second on a throwing error during the next at-bat. Strouth ripped a double to left center, scoring Velazquez for the first run of the contest.
Two pitches later, Bennett hit her second triple of the season, knocking in Strouth for a two-run first inning.
A leadoff home run to right center by Lawter in the bottom of the second extended the Hokies' lead to three. With a three-run lead, it was almost cut to one after an almost home run by Virginia's Haley Busby in the top of the fifth.
With a runner on first, Busby lifted one to deep left field as Strouth was tracking it all the way to the wall. And at the last possible second, Strouth reached up and jumped, catching the ball over the wall to rob the would-be homer.
The bottom of the fifth Tech plated four, beginning with a two-run double to left field by Bennett to score shortstop Caitlyn Nolan and Velazquez.
Slaw, coming in off the bench and on the second pitch she saw, went the other way with a two-run home run to left, plating pinch runner Kinsey Johnson to make it a 7-0 game.
NOTES
- With the 16 ACC wins, that ties the second-most in school history, tying the 2007 team that won all seven of its league series. Tech has won six series now, tying the 2008 team, which won six of its seven series.
- Lawter's leadoff home run was Tech's 10th of the season. The sophomore now has eight homers this season, the fourth-most on the team.
- The crowd was the biggest since April 20, 2013, versus Florida State.
- Bennett's triple was Tech's seventh of the season and first since April 7 against Duke.
- The Hokies played solid defense all weekend, committing zero errors.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Thank you #HokieNation for coming out today!
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 13, 2019
Our attendance of 1,321 is the sixth-most attended game all-time at Tech Softball Park 👊#ThisIsHome | #Hokies🦃pic.twitter.com/FDuhfP0ps4
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will head to the Queen City on Wednesday, taking on Charlotte (14-5-2, 6-2 C-USA) in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Gallery: (4/13/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL vs. VIRGINIA DOUBLEHEADER