LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In a low-scoring affair Friday night, No. 19/16 Virginia Tech softball had a three-run fifth inning that proved to be the difference in its 3-0 victory over Louisville at Ulmer Stadium.
Pitcher Keely Rochard (13-1, 0.80 ERA) turned in her seventh complete-game shutout of the season, striking at 16 batters and only allowing three hits and one walk. Tech (17-4, 11-4 ACC) was held to its second-fewest hits of the season (4), but another no-error game defensively and timely hitting gave it its third straight win of the season, as well as its third straight victory over the Cardinals (9-12, 3-7).
Outfielder Emma Ritter (.342 BA, 10 SBs) was the lone Hokie to have a multi-hit game, getting two singles and the freshman also stole a base, too, to stay perfect on the year for stolen-base attempts (10 for 10).
First baseman Jayme Bailey (.403 BA, 24 RBIs) had an RBI single and Kelsey Brown (.400 BA, 13 SBs) and Darby Trull (.340 BA, 10 RBIs) each had a run batted in off a fielder's choice, with all three plays occurring in the third inning.
QUOTING TECH FIRST BASEMAN JAYME BAILEY
On the team's ability to score with runners on when there's few opportunities in a low-scoring game:
"We did a great job of executing today when we needed to," Bailey said. "Everyone was kind of struggling at the plate today, but when it came down to it, we did what we had to do to squeeze a few runs across. Being able to do that now will help us in the long run."
On teammate Keely Rochard and what's made her so tough to hit as of late:
"For one, her demeanor on the mound. Seeing the way she carries herself on the mound as a hitter is intimidating. She's calm, cool and collected, but also knows how to get in their heads. She mixes her pitches very well, and does a great job of hitting her spots, which makes it very hard as a hitter to square one up."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tech, similar to its most recent game this past Wednesday (vs. UVA), didn't get things going at the plate the first few innings, but turned it around the second time around in the order. It all started in the top of the fifth when third baseman Alexa Milius singled up the middle on a full count and then Ritter singled to left.
Catcher Mackenzie Lawter put down a sac bunt to move over the two runners, then was followed by consecutive fielder's choices from Brown, which was a drag bunt to third essentially, and Trull, a routine grounder to second, to put the Hokies up 2-0.
After Brown advanced to third off a deep fly ball by designated player Grace Chavez to right, she would eventually score thanks to a single to left by Bailey to make it 3-0.
Those three runs would be enough for Rochard, who ended up throwing 122 pitches on the night. The righty would get a flyout to start the bottom of the seventh, then proceeded to get two strikeouts to end it. On the night, Rochard struck out the side twice – the first and second innings – and then would get exactly two strikeouts a frame the rest of the way (5 innings total).
NOTES
- With her 16 strikeouts on the day, Rochard is now just 10 strikeouts away from passing Jasmin Harrell (2010-13) for the fifth-most in school history. Harrell racked up 588.
- Ritter posted her fifth multi-hit game of the season, with three of those coming in her last five games. The Maryland native also swiped a base for the third straight game and has yet to be caught stealing this season.
- Speaking of steals, Brown put together two herself for the third time this year, which is a season high. She leads the team with 13 stolen bases, and, like Ritter, hasn't been caught yet.
- Brown did, however, have her 11-game hitting streak come to an end tonight, which was the second longest of her career. Last season, she had a 14-game hit streak. But, with her walk and fielder's choice tonight, her 14-game reached-based streak stays intact.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies will play in a doubleheader on Saturday at Ulmer Stadium against Louisville, beginning at noon ET. Both games will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.Gallery: (3-26-2021) 2021 SOFTBALL AT LOUISVILLE FRIDAY
