GAME 1 | Virginia Tech 12, Pittsburgh 3
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Junior Jayme Bailey and sophomore Emma Ritter each collected three RBIs to help propel the No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies over the Pitt Panthers 12-3 on Friday.
Senior Keely Rochard (13-2) started in the circle and picked up the win for Virginia Tech (24-3, 10-0). The right-hander went three shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing one walk and striking out six.
Ritter went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a home run in addition to her three RBIs and Bailey put together a 1-for-2 day with a home run, supplementing her three RBI performance for the Hokies. Sophomore Addy Greene compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Virginia Tech's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a three-run home run off the bat of Bailey.
The Panthers failed to push any runs across before the Hokies offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Virginia Tech scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Ritter, which brought the score to 8-0 in favor of the Hokies.
Virginia Tech kept Pitt scoreless before building their lead to 12-0 the following inning. The Hokie bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Greene and a two-run single from sophomore Cameron Fagan. The Panthers put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Virginia Tech closed out the game for the 12-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Rochard struck out six Panthers hitters.
» The Hokies power output was led by Ritter, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Ritter and Bailey drove in three runs each for the Hokies.
» Virginia Tech grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Four Hokies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Virginia Tech hitters hit three homers in the ballgame.
» The Hokies out-hit the Panthers at a 10-6 clip.
» Virginia Tech went 4-for-10 (.400) with runners in scoring position..
» Ritter led the Hokies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
» Pitt was led offensively by senior Katlyn Pavlick, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.