CONWAY, S.C. –To open the 2020 season, the Virginia Tech softball team cruised past Iowa 9-1 in a five-inning run-rule victory and Coastal Carolina 11-2 in the nightcap on the first day of the Kickin' Chicken Classic on Friday.
The Hokies (2-0) emerged victorious behind stellar pitching from Kaylee Hewitt (1-0) and Keely Rochard (1-0) to start the season undefeated through opening day against the Hawkeyes (1-1) and Chanticleers (0-1), marking the second straight season Tech has started 2-0.
In the first outing against Iowa, the Hokies were led by right fielder Al Velazquez who recorded three runs and three RBIs. Sophomore Kelsey Bennet finished with a home run and three RBIs while sophomore Jayme Bailey registered two runs and had a hit. Hewitt had three Ks in five innings pitched and only allowed three hits.
In the second contest against Coastal Carolina, Tech saw valuable performances from left fielder Kelsey Brown who had three hits and two RBIs. Redshirt senior Olivia Lattin hit her first homer of the season and Velazquez tallied two runs and two RBIs. Rochard collected 10 Ks and only allowed two runs in seven innings pitched.
GAME 1
Against Iowa, Tech and the Hawkeyes were all tied up after two innings at 1-1. In the third, the Hokies caught fire, scoring three runs, including a home run from Bennett. Tech would not let up in the fourth scoring five runs, including a double from Velazquez, which brought in three runs alone. The Hokies went on to win the game 9-1 in five innings on run-rule.
GAME 2
It was a close contest going into the third inning when Velazquez singled up the middle bringing in Trull and Brown to give Tech a 3-0 lead. In the fifth, it was back and forth action as both teams scored two runs. In the seventh, catcher Grace Chavez singled to left field while Lattin and freshman Ashley Whitley each scored runs. The Hokies would not look back, claiming the game 11-2.
NOTES
- Rochard added 10 Ks against Coastal Carolina, marking 271 strikeouts of her career.
- Brown recorded a team-high four hits through the first two games.
- Trull tallied three hits through the first two games giving her 80 hits in her career.
- Bennett hit her first homerun of 2020 against Iowa and the 15th of her career.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will face a pair of teams on the second day of Kickin' Chicken Classic with Campbell at 4:15 p.m. and East Carolina at 6:30 p.m. on Coastal Carolina's campus.
Gallery: (2/7/2020) 2020 SOFTBALL KICKIN' CHICKEN CLASSIC 1