BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Senior Kelsey Bennett collected five RBI to help power the No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies over the Chattanooga Mocs 12-7 on Friday. The senior had two doubles on the night, adding to her season total of 17 RBI on the year.
Freshman Lyndsey Grein (6-2) got the win for Virginia Tech (23-6). The right-hander went four innings, allowing seven runs on one walk and striking out five. Sophomore Emma Lemley also pitched well, coming on in the fifth and going three shutout innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out seven to earn her second save of the season.
Bennett went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk in addition to her five RBI for the Hokies. Sophomore Bre Peck put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Junior Emma Ritter also contributed for Virginia Tech, adding two walks and two RBI.
The Hokies set a new program record, walking 15 times against the Mocs. Kylie Adridge also matched a program game-high, walking four times for the first time since Courtney Liddle in 2012.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-0, the Hokies first put runs on the board in the first inning. Virginia Tech got an RBI single from Peck, scoring Ritter from second base.
The Hokies kept the Mocs off the board before narrowing the gap further in the second. Virginia Tech scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Ritter, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of Chattanooga.
Chattanooga built their lead to 4-2 before the Virginia Tech offense got going, overtaking the Mocs to grab a 9-4 advantage in the fourth. The Hokies bats heated up in the inning, scoring seven runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Bennett and a two-run double from Peck.
The Mocs fought back, closing the gap to 9-7 until Virginia Tech added some insurance in the fifth. A Bennett bases-clearing double sent in three runs in the inning for the Hokies, bringing the Virginia Tech advantage to 12-7. The score remained 12-7 for the rest of the game, as the Hokies defense closed out the win.
GAME NOTES
» Lemley struck out seven Lady Mocs hitters and Grein fanned five for the Hokies.
» The Hokies power output was led by Bennett, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Bennett drove in five runs for Virginia Tech.
» Every Virginia Tech starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Virginia Tech pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Chattanooga hitters.
» Virginia Tech went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
» The Hokies got three hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded.
» The Hokies drew 15 walks from Chattanooga pitching, a new program-high
The Hokies and Mocs close out the series tomorrow, playing a doubleheader beginning at Noon.
Gallery: (3-24-2023) SB: Chattanooga Game 1