LEXINGTON, Ky. – After dropping its first game of the day versus No. 23/20 Kentucky, 8-1, the No. 22/21 Virginia Tech softball team bounced back with a 5-1 win over Illinois at John Cropp Stadium, advancing to the Lexington Regional final.
The win marked the Hokies' (47-10, 20-4 ACC) first regional final appearance since 2013, which was ironically in Lexington as well. Tech got clutch home runs by outfielder Al Velazquez and shortstop Caitlyn Nolan and a four-hitter from pitcher Keely Rochard, defeating the Fighting Illini (33-25, 9-14 B1G) for the second day in a row.
The Hokies racked up five extra-base hits in a spread-out attack, getting them to their fourth regional final in program history. Rochard (22-3) dueled one strikeout and allowed just one run on 99 pitches.
In the first game, the Wildcats (35-22, 14-10 SEC) capitalized on Tech's miscues, scoring five unanswered runs as pitcher Carrie Eberle (25-7) allowed three earned runs and struck out six batters. Outfielder Emma Strouth had the Hokies' lone run of the game, a solo home run to left that broke the school record for most runs scored in a season with 50.
QUOTING TECH COACH PETE D'AMOUR
Opening statement:
"Well, we made it to Sunday," Tech coach Pete D'Amour said. "We played a lot better that game. The thing I told the team was that nobody wants to go out of regionals on a Saturday. So, we made it to Sunday and gave ourselves a chance.
"I think if we clean up some mistakes against Kentucky, we've got a chance. We didn't play terrible against them in the first game, but I'm proud of the way the kids reacted after the first game and we'll see what happens tomorrow."
QUOTING PITCHER KEELY ROCHARD
On pitching in an elimination game:
"I didn't really think about the 'do-or-die' part," Rochard said. "It's another game. I try not to think about it because I have to play the way I showed, whether it's do-or-die or not. I feel good knowing that we won and that we're moving onto tomorrow because I think we have a very good chance. We're all tired so we better get some good rest. It was a long day."
GAME 3 – VT 5, ILLINOIS 1
The Hokies got back to their normal ways with getting a run across in the first inning. Velazquez got it going with a leadoff double to right center and moved to second after Nolan earned a walk. She would get to third after first baseman Jayme Bailey drew a walk and then Velazquez would score on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
The Illini answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to left field. The tie game would not be short lived as both pitchers stayed true to their game, with the third and fourth being scoreless innings.
The floodgates would open with a three-run fifth inning, starting with another leadoff hit by Velazquez, this time a solo homer to center field for the go-ahead run. The next at-bat, outfielder Darby Trull hit a double to left and then Nolan hit her 19thblast of the season, giving Tech a three-run cushion at 4-1.
Tech was not done, though, getting one more run in the top of the sixth after an RBI double to center by Trull, knocking in second baseman Maddi Banks all the way from first base. Rochard would get six of the next seven batters out to seal the deal in the final two innings.
Gallery: (5/18/2019) 2019 NCAA SOFTBALL REGIONAL GAME THREE
GAME 2 – VT 1, UK 8
The Wildcats and Hokies, in front of roughly 1,900 people, were in a deadlock the first three innings as both Eberle and the UK's Grace Baalman (10-9) were pitching at a high level. The 'Cats did put the pressure on Eberle in the bottom of the third, getting two on with two outs and the SEC Player of the Year, Abbey Cheek, stepping to the plate. But Eberle buckled down and struck her out swinging.
The fourth and fifth innings were different stories, though, as Kentucky plate three in the fourth and four in the fifth thanks to some Tech errors that proved to be costly. Tech had its chances on offense, however, but couldn't muster a timely hit as they left five runners on base.
Tech did get a run on the board later in the contest, getting a solo shot by Strouth down the left-field line for the record. It was her 13th home run of the season.
The Hokies got a runner on in the top of the seventh after pinch hitter Meredith Slaw roped a single off the first baseman, but Tech couldn't plate her to end it.
Gallery: (5/18/2019) 2019 NCAA SOFTBALL REGIONAL GAME TWO
NOTES
- Velazquez's home run was her first in roughly six weeks (March 31 versus Louisville) and her fourth of the season. It was Tech's 16th leadoff homer in 2019.
- The Hokies' five extra-base hits in the Illinois game was its 19th game of the season with owning five or more extra-base hits.
- Trull had her A-game at the plate Saturday, getting a combined four hits in the two games, including three of those being doubles. Her two doubles in the Illinois contest tied a career high, tying her two two-baggers she had versus then-No. 8/8 Georgia on March 1.
- Velazquez finished with four hits on the day, too, and has a team-high five hits in regionals, batting a blistering .625 and a 1.375 slugging percentage.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Outfielder @_Al_Velazquez_ talks about her big day at the plate & what the mindset will be tomorrow ✊#ThisIsHome | #Hokies🦃pic.twitter.com/c1K7qqNATu
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) May 19, 2019
UP NEXT
- Tech will face Kentucky on Sunday at noon ET on ESPN3. If the Hokies win, they will force an if-necessary game that will take place roughly 30 minutes afterword versus Kentucky again and would give them the chance to make it to super regionals for the second time in program history.