ATLANTA – After coming back to take the final two games against Clemson earlier in the week, Virginia Tech softball does it again, winning the series finale vs. Florida State 6-0 Sunday afternoon to win their second ACC series of the year.
The No. 14/15 Hokies (7-2, 4-2 ACC) beat the No. 13/14 Seminoles (7-3, 4-2 ACC) in a series for the first time since 2011 with Sunday's win. Tech opens the ACC season with wins in both series after taking two out of three from Clemson Thursday and Friday.
"I knew these last two days were going to be a gauntlet and they certainly were," Head coach Pete D'Amour said. "We learned a lot about our team. If we play acceptable defense and pitch like we have, this team will be tough. It was a very positive sign to see us respond after getting punched in the nose Game 1 against Clemson and Florida State."
Keely Rochard (5-1) threw her third complete game shutout of the season, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit. The junior has only allowed three earned runs in 37.0 innings pitched this year, two of which were to the ranked Seminoles in 12.0 innings.
Tech scored six runs on five hits Sunday, including two home runs from Cameron Fagan and Grace Chavez. The three-run shot was Fagan's first of her career and second extra-base hit on the season. Dating back to the series finale at Clemson, Chavez has homered in four straight games, knocking in six runs in that span.
"I felt relaxed in the box and was seeing the ball well," Chavez said. "I also knew that my team would have my back and pick me up if I didn't get the job done. The team this weekend was firing on all cylinders and it showed on the field."
After the first weekend of conference play, the Hokies are tied for first in the ACC with four conference wins. Tech will play eight more ACC series this season, four at Tech Softball Park, with the next scheduled for the first weekend of March vs. Boston College.
"This team has a lot of grit," D'Amour said. "We have a long season ahead of us, but there were a lot of positives to take away from this weekend."
THE GAME
A pitcher's duel through the first three innings, Tech broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth when Jayme Bailey doubled over the right fielder's head to score Kelsey Brown. The Hokies would double up in the fourth off a Darby Trull single that brought around Bailey from second.
The bats came out again in the fifth inning when Fagan hit her three-run blast over the right-field wall. Chavez extended the lead to six off her solo homer to left center in the next at-bat.
Rochard was dominant all day, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering the only Seminole hit. Florida State went one for 21 in the game.
NOTES
- After striking out nine Sunday, Rochard takes sole possession of seventh on the all-time Virginia Tech strikeout list at 486 career K's. She is 25 strikeouts away from passing Kenzie Roark for sixth.
- Fagan and Chavez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning, marking the first time the Hokies went back-to-back since March 6, 2020 at Virginia when Chavez and Bailey accomplished the feat.
- Chavez has gone four straight games with a home run. At four total on the season, the sophomore in on pace for 21 home runs, which would break the VT single-season record of 19 held by current student assistant Caitlyn Nolan.
- Fagan had two hits Sunday, including her first home run, bringing her season total to a team-high 12. At .387, she leads the Hokies in batting average and has recorded a hit in eight of the team's nine games. The freshman also had a career-high three RBIs Sunday.
- With two Sunday, the Hokies have hit at least one home run in five straight games and in six of the nine games this year. D'Amour's teams are 110-20 when at least one home run is hit.