WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The No. 11 Virginia Tech softball team closed out opening weekend with a run-rule victory, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 9-0 in five innings. This is the second five-inning win this weekend. So. Bre Peck and R-So. Molly Jacobson combined to toss a shutout and junior Addy Greene had four RBI to lead the Hokies.
Tech finished opening weekend 5-0, outscoring opponents 32-3 over the five wins. The Hokies pitching staff also has a combined ERA of .23, while their opponents register a 6.07.
Peck (1-0) started and picked up the win for Virginia Tech in her pitching debut, going three shutout innings while giving up two hits, walking none, and striking out one. Jacobson came out of bullpen, going two shutout innings, allowing three hits.
In the batter's box, the Hokies were paced by junior Addy Greene, who went 2-for-3 on the day with two home runs and four RBI. Junior Emma Ritter went 3-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Senior Jayme Bailey continued her hot streak for Virginia Tech, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding a triple and two RBI. Bailey ends the weekend leading the team in average with a .714.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies started the scoring in the first inning as Bailey tripled to Ritter. From there, Tech tacked on runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, with their biggest output coming in the third when they scored five times. That five-run inning included two Virginia Tech home runs from Ritter and Greene.
Tech will travel to Florida next weekend to compete in the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational, playing five games over the weekend beginning on Friday. The Hokies will face Oklahoma State, Nebraska, UCLA, Arizona and USF, all NCAA Tournament teams a season ago. The Cowgirls, Bruins and Wildcats all advanced to the World Series.
GAME NOTES
» Peck and Jacobson combined to throw a five-hit shutout.
» The Hokies got two home runs off the bat of Greene.
» Virginia Tech got three-hit games from both Ritter and Bailey.
» The Hokies power output was led by Greene, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Greene drove in four runs for Virginia Tech.
» Virginia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Hokies out-hit the Mastodons at a 9-5 clip.
» Virginia Tech went 5-for-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position.
» The Hokies drew four walks from Purdue Fort Wayne pitching.
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