LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In a matchup of two of the conference's best pitchers, the No. 20/20 Virginia Tech softball team dropped a close, 2-0 contest to top-seeded, No. 13/10 Clemson in Friday's ACC Tournament semifinal.
The Hokies (33-13) were shutout for just the second time this season following a complete game performance from the ACC's Freshman and Player of the Year Valerie Cagle (26-4). Tech pitcher Keely Rochard (25-8) got the loss despite holding the Tigers (42-5) to just two runs on four hits.
THE GAME
It was a pitcher's dual for most of the game as Rochard and Cagle held batters to a combined seven hits on the day. Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Brown led the game off with a single up the middle, but that was all Tech would get in the first inning.
Clemson got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after a bunt single brought a run home from third. The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning off a solo home run.
Rochard kept the Hokies in the ballgame for the rest of the day, retiring six straight Clemson batters at one point, but the Hokies could not get a run across. Jayme Bailey, Brown and Addy Greene got Tech's three hits, all singles.
UP NEXT
The Hokies will turn their focus to regionals and Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show, which can be seen at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The 16 NCAA Regionals hosts will also be announced during the show. Tech Softball Park was named to the list of 20 potential host sites announced by the NCAA April 30.Gallery: (5-14-2021) 2021 ACC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL