CHARLESTON, S.C. – After winning both games of Friday's doubleheader, Virginia Tech gets two more wins Saturday at the Charleston Invitational in South Carolina.
The Hokies (11-3) defeated Bradley (7-6) in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader and concluded it with a run-rule victory over North Carolina A&T (2-9). Kaylee Hewitt (5-0) tossed a no-hitter in Tech's second win of the day.
"It was super exciting to throw my first no-hitter," Hewitt said. "Our defense was really good behind me. I couldn't have done it without them."
In its first game, Tech saw an impressive outing from Keely Rochard (6-3), who pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts and didn't allow an earned run to Bradley in the 9-1 win. Jayme Bailey delivered the offense for the Hokies with a home run and four RBIs. Grace Chavez also had three RBIs and a home run.
Hewitt took the circle in Game 2 and didn't allow a hit to North Carolina A&T in Tech's 16-0 win in five innings. She had seven strikeouts in an efficient outing, throwing just 59 pitches. Kelsey Bennett knocked in a career-high five runs in the win and Meredith Slaw had four RBIs. Al Velazquez hit her first home run of the year and batted in three runs.
GAME 1
The Hokies struck first against Bradley when Chavez crushed a two-run homer to straight-away center field in the first inning. Maddi Banks kept the scoring going in the second with an inside-the-park home run to give Tech a 3-0 lead. A Bailey infield single and a throwing error plated two more runs in the fourth.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Chavez walked with the bases loaded in the sixth to drive in her third run of the game. Tech added to its lead in the top of the seventh when Bailey took one deep to left field scoring three more to give the Hokies a 9-0 lead.
After a double and sacrifice fly, Bradley was able to get one across on a throwing error. However, Rochard ended the game with the next batter, inducing a line out to Olivia Lattin at second base.
GAME 2
Again, Tech jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning after Kelsey Brown singled and Bailey ripped a double to left. Bailey advanced to third and came home on two ground outs to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead.
The Hokies put up 12 runs in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Slaw stepped up and delivered a three-run double to deep center field to start the scoring. Bennett had an RBI triple, Ashley Whitley and Kate Kobayashi had RBI singles, Velazquez hit a sacrifice fly and Slaw doubled again to give Tech an 11-0 lead. Bennett capped the inning with a three-run blast to left field.
Tech would score two more in the fourth after Velazquez hit a two-run homer to right center. Hewitt retired the side in order in the top of the fifth to pick up her first career no-hitter.
NOTES
- The Hokies hit three home runs versus Bradley, the first time they've done that since April 29, 2019 against Boston College.
- With a hit against Bradley, Mackenzie Lawter extended her hitting streak to a career-high six games.
- Bailey had a career-high four RBIs in Tech's first game of the day. She now has 14 RBIs in 14 games this season.
- Rochard had another double-digit strikeout game versus Bradley with 10, her fifth in eight starts this season.
- Bennett drove in a career-high five runs Saturday night against North Carolina A&T. She leads the team in that category with 16.
- Slaw had a career-high in RBIs with four in a career game against North Carolina A&T. She also set career marks in hits (2), doubles (2) and runs scored (1).
UP NEXT
Tech will play in its last game of the Charleston Invitational Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. ET against host College of Charleston.