CLEARWATER, Fla. – Virginia Tech softball came up short against No. 16/16 Oklahoma State on Thursday, falling 14-6 in six innings on opening day of the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.
The Hokies (4-2) were looking to pull off an upset, but a costly sixth inning doomed them as the Cowgirls (3-2) staved off the bid. Despite the loss, starting pitcher Keely Rochard (2-2) had 11 strikeouts Thursday to up her season total to 45.
Oklahoma State was paced by shortstop Kiley Naomi, whose leadoff home run in the first inning got the Cowgirls' offense going. She finished the game with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Mackenzie Lawter hit her first home run of the season with a deep, three-run shot to left center field. Freshman Grayson Cruce had a pinch-hit, RBI single.
THE GAME
Oklahoma State got off to a quick start, hitting back-to-back home runs to open the game. The Hokies struck back in the bottom of the second with the Lawter home run to take a 4-3 lead. The Cowgirls countered with four runs of their own in the third.
Hanging tough at 7-4, Tech looked to have something going when Jayme Bailey scored on a passed ball to make it a two-run game in the fifth. However, Oklahoma State kept it a two-run game with getting out of the inning and then broke the game open the next frame with seven runs for insurance.
NOTES
- Lawter hit her first home run of the season and 12th of her career.
- Rochard struck out 11 batters in 5.1 innings, throwing 141 pitches, and has tallied 26 Ks her last two outings.
- Kelsey Brown had a hit for her team-leading 11th of the season, extending her hitting streak to six games.
- Kelsey Bennett went 1 for 1, walking twice and scoring the Hokies' first run of the game.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech now turns its attention to No. 18/17 South Carolina (4-1) at 10 a.m. ET Friday morning on Day 2 of the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.Gallery: (2/13/2020) 2020 SOFTBALL vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
