BLACKSBURG – After wrapping up its ACC slate this past weekend, the No. 24/23 Virginia Tech softball team will play host to Longwood on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Tech Softball Park.
The two games will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with Bailey Angle (play-by-play) and Shelby Miller (color) on the call.
Tech (43-8, 20-4 ACC), which locked up the No. 1 seed in the ACC Championship on Sunday, is tied with the Lancers (34-16, 20-4 Big South) in the all-time series at 12-12. The two schools faced each other last year and split in Farmville.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Tue. | 4 p.m. vs. Longwood | Stats | Watch
Tue. | 6 p.m. vs. Longwood | Stats | Watch
The last time out, the Hokies won their series finale with Boston College (16-32, 4-17) this past Sunday, getting an 8-1 victory on the Eagles' Senior Day. The long ball was the story of the day, as shortstop Caitlyn Nolan, outfielder Cana Davis and catcher Mackenzie Lawter all went deep. In the circle, pitchers Carrie Eberle (24-5) and Keely Rochard (19-3) combined to give up just one run and strike out seven batters.
In the polls last week, Tech fell three spots to No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA poll, and fell three spots to No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The RPI has the Hokies slotted at No. 28, the third best in the ACC.
Rochard has 11 shutouts on the season, tied for the second most nationally, and fellow pitcher Eberle is tied for the most wins in the ACC with 24. Tech is third in the land for home run this year, boasting 86. First baseman Jayme Bailey has the fifth-best batting average (.413) in the league, while outfielder Emma Strouth's school-record 61 RBIs is the most in the conference.
SCOUTING LONGWOOD
Record: 34-16 (20-4 Big South)
Head coach: Kathy Riley (720-398, 21st season)
All-time series: Tied 12-12
The Lancers are coming of a sweep of Presbyterian (11-40, 1-22 Big South), with Kasey Carr leading the team at the plate with a 3-for-3 day in the series finale.
