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NC State Athletics
Softball

Hokies, Rochard beat Wolfpack in Game 1


RALEIGH, N.C. – In its first game since beating Florida State on Feb. 21, Virginia Tech softball picked up right where it left off with a 4-2 win over NC State Friday night.
 
The No. 16/15 Hokies (8-2, 5-2 ACC) got a stellar outing from junior pitcher Keely Rochard (6-1), who went the distance for the sixth time this season while striking out a season-high 12 batters, to beat the Wolfpack (11-4, 7-4 ACC).
 
At the plate, Tech got RBIs from Addy Greene, Jayme Bailey and Mackenzie Lawter to help the Hokies to their third straight win.
 
THE GAME
NC State struck first with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning but that's all the Wolfpack would get across on Rochard. The Hokies' offense came through in the third inning after Lawter drew a walk and Greene doubled to right center field to cut the deficit to one. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Bailey lined one into center field to score Kelsey Brown and Cameron Fagan and take a 3-2 lead.
 


 
Tech added another run in the top of the fourth inning after Emma Ritter walked and got into scoring position with a stolen base, allowing Lawter to bring her in with a single up the middle. The two-run lead was safe with Rochard, who retired eight in a row between the third and sixth innings, before striking out two in the bottom of the seventh to get the victory.
 
NOTES

  • Rochard struck out a season-high 12 batters and also set a new season high for pitches at 141. Rochard's career highs are 15 strikeouts and 150 pitches.

 

  • Bailey had two RBIs Friday night, giving her a team-high 11 on the season, the only Hokie with double-digit RBIs. The sophomore tied for second on the team last season with 21 RBIs in 25 games.

 

  • The Hokies stole a season-high three bases after Brown, Greene and Ritter each had steal Friday night. Combined, the trio has gone a perfect 10 steals on 10 attempts this season.

 
UP NEXT
The Hokies and Wolfpack will face off in a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon. Game 1 will be broadcast on the ACC Network while Game 2 can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.