BLACKSBURG – Outfielder Emma Strouth went 2 for 3 with a game-high four RBIs on her way to breaking a school record, leading No. 22/20 Virginia Tech softball to an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings at Tech Softball Park on Friday in the Commonwealth Clash.
The senior is now the single-season RBI record holder, passing Megan Evans' mark of 50 set in 2005, with now owning 52 through 41 games.
Catcher Mackenzie Lawter also had a day at the plate, getting two hits as well and posting three RBIs. The South Boston, Virginia native blasted a solo home run in the second inning and then hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the fifth.
In the circle for the Hokies (35-6, 14-2 ACC), pitcher Carrie Eberle (20-3) threw a two-hit shutout, fanning five batters in an efficient 59-pitch outing.
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 7.5-6.5 in favor of Virginia Tech. If Tech wins one game in Saturday's doubleheader, it will clinch the series and get a full point. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at www.thecommonwealthclash.com.
QUOTING TECH COACH PETE D'AMOUR
On outfielder Emma Strouth and catcher Mackenzie Lawter producing seven of the team's eight runs:
"They were both on time at the plate, and that's huge," Tech coach Pete D'Amour said. "Emma [Strouth] was on time from the first pitch that she saw in her first at-bat, hitting one out. And then Mack [Lawter] was the same thing. So, the timing was really good today by both of them."
On how the team handled the adjustments leading up to the game with the weather conditions and stayed focused come game time:
"First, I think we may have the best grounds crew I've ever been around," D'Amour said. "I didn't think we were going to get it in at the beginning. They were awesome.
"And then players wise, it was a culmination of what we've done all year. We don't let the outside stuff affect us too much – the opponent, the weather, all that. It doesn't matter. We were ready to play when they said, 'Play ball.'"
HOW IT HAPPENED
Eberle got to work early in the top of the first, making the Cavaliers (16-23, 5-11) go three up, three down by only throwing 11 pitches. In the bottom half, first baseman Jayme Bailey earned a six-pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Strouth ripped a two-run home run to left field to give Tech a 2-0 lead early.
The bottom of the second saw the Hokies tack on three more, starting with a solo shot to left in a 1-0 count by Lawter for her seventh homer of the season. Then second baseman Maddi Banks walked on four straight pitches and stole second before a six-pitch walk to Bailey.
Shortstop Caitlyn Nolan walked as well to load up the bases for Strouth, who delivered with a two-run single to center for the record and to give Tech a five-run lead.
Eberle got two strikeouts, both swinging, in the top of the third. Then outfielder Al Velazquez led off the bottom half with a double to right field and proceeded to steal third. Lawter grounded out to short, but the middle infield was deep enough to allow Velazquez to use her legs and score.
Similarly in the fourth, Tech got a runner on third base and scored off a grounder, as Bailey, who got on with a double to the wall in the left center, got to third off a groundout and on the next-at bat, scored thanks to a check swing that Nolan made contact with to third.
After a 4-6-3 double play turned by Banks and Nolan to close out the top of the fifth, third baseman Kelsey Bennett got it started in the bottom half with a single to the shortstop. She would advance on a wild pitch while designated player Lauren Duff walked. Then Lawter hit the walk-off to center, scoring Bennett to claim it.
NOTES
- Tech had four doubles in the game, tying the second most this season. The last time the Hokies had four in a contest was on March 27 versus Radford.
- With the 14 wins in ACC play, that is the fourth most of Tech's 15 seasons in the league. The 14 victories top the 2016 team when it went 13-11.
- Eberle now boasts 20 wins in the circle, marking the first time a Tech pitcher has cracked the plateau since 2016, when Maggie Tyler won 23.
- Strouth's four RBIs tied her most this season, which she has done so five times this year.
- Stacy Kalt pinch ran in the fifth and swiped second, marking her 11th stolen base of the season. She is tied with Banks, who got her 11th tonight as well.
- The shutout over UVA marked Tech's first since April 30, 2016, when it won 15-0 (5). The Hokies have now blanked the Wahoos 11 times.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Here is Strouth's record-breaking two-run single!@EmmaStrouth now has the most RBIs in a single season in school history with 52 ✊#ThisIsHome | #Hokies🦃pic.twitter.com/Zp8FYubeMA
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 13, 2019
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will come back to TSP on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon ET. The two games will be broadcast on WatchESPN, with Billy Parvatam on the call.
Gallery: (4/12/2019) 2019 SOFTBALL vs VIRGINIA GAME ONE