RALEIGH, N.C. – Virginia Tech softball set a new school record, hitting eight home runs in its 17-4 win at NC State to win its third ACC series of the season.
Sophomore Kelsey Bennett also set a school record for individual home runs in a single game with three to lead the No. 16/15 Hokies (10-3, 7-3 ACC) to their second run-rule victory of the weekend over the Wolfpack (12-6, 8-6 ACC). With the win, Tech has now won five straight ACC series, the longest active streak in the conference.
The Hokies got home runs from Jayme Bailey, Bennett, Cana Davis, Cameron Fagan, Alexa Milius and Morgan Overaitis. Milius, having gotten her first hit as a Hokie earlier in the game, hit the first Tech grand slam since Mackenzie Lawter hit one on March 23, 2019. The Hokies shattered the previous single game home run record of five, which had been achieved four times.
"I'm thrilled to be coming out of Raleigh with three wins," Head coach Pete D'Amour said. "The offense was the most impressive part of our weekend. We have a good hitting team and things started clicking the last two days.
"I want to specifically point out Grace [Chavez] and the weekend she had. She didn't hit the way we know she can but she kept the dugout up all weekend long. I'm proud of her response as well as the response of the team after Game 1 yesterday."
THE GAME
After a scoreless first inning, Bennett got her and Tech's historic day started with a two-run home run in the second inning. Three batters later, Davis crushed one over the right-center field wall to lead 3-0.
NC State tied the game in the bottom of the second, but Bennett delivered again in the third, knocking a two-run homer to left field. The Wolfpack would score in the bottom of the third, but the Hokies lead 5-4.
Tech broke the game wide open in the fifth inning. Bailey got her second home run of the year with a two-run shot over the left-field wall. After the Hokies reloaded the bases, Milius crushed one to center for a grand slam. Two batters later, Fagan hit a solo shot over the right field wall. Bennett struck for her third of the game, knocking in three, with a bomb to center field. Overaitis put the cap on the five-homer fifth inning with a shot to right field.
Rochard allowed just five hits to the Wolfpack all game and closed out the second Hokie run-rule win in as many days.
NOTES
- Tech hit a school-record eight home runs, surpassing the previous mark of five. The Hokies hit five home runs in one inning Sunday.
- Bennett set a new individual high for home runs in a game with three, her second career multi-homer game. The sophomore took over the team lead with five home runs on the year.
- The Hokies had a school record six different batters hit a home run in Sunday's game.
- With her home run, Bailey knocked in two more runs Sunday, giving her a team-high 15 on the season. She had six RBIs in the four-game series at NC State.
- Joining the program as transfers in the summer, Milius and Overaitis each hit their first home runs in maroon and orange Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Hokies return home for their first games at Tech Softball Park since April 30, 2019 with a doubleheader vs. Radford on Wednesday.