AUBURN, Ala. --Junior Rachel Castine and senior Cameron Fagan each racked up two extra base hits to help power the No. 23 Virginia Tech Hokies past the Illinois Fighting Illini 18-1 on Friday.
Sophomore Cassie Grizzard (1-0) got the win for Virginia Tech (1-0). The southpaw went three innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing no walks and striking out two. Freshman Emma Mazzarone also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
Fagan's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-3 day, and included two doubles and two RBI. Castine made her contribution with a double, a home run, a walk and four RBI, part of a 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Freshman Michelle Chatfield also helped out for the Hokies, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Virginia Tech plated two runs off of Illinois pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of senior Addy Greene.
The Fighting Illini failed to push any runs across before the Hokies offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Virginia Tech pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Fagan that scored Castine and senior Emma Ritter, which brought the score to 4-0 in favor of the Hokies.
Illinois narrowed Virginia Tech's lead to 4-1 before the Hokies stretched the advantage to 12-1 in the fourth inning. The Hokies bats heated up in the inning, scoring eight runs, including a grand slam off the bat of Castine.
Virginia Tech held the Fighting Illini scoreless before their offense got back in action the next inning. The Hokies scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of sophomore Teagan Thrunk and a two-run home run from Chatfield, first in her career, bringing the score to 18-1 in favor of Virginia Tech. The score remained 18-1 for the rest of the game, as the Hokies coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Hokies had both Castine and Fagan crush multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Castine drove in four runs for Virginia Tech.
» Every Virginia Tech starter reached base safely in the win.
» Virginia Tech's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Virginia Tech took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Hokies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hokies had a total of 19 hits.
» The Hokies out-hit the Fighting Illini at a 19-3 clip.
» Virginia Tech went 10-for-18 (.556) with runners in scoring position.
» Virginia Tech pitchers faced 18 Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and one fly balls while striking out four.
» The Hokies drew eight walks from Illinois pitching.
» Castine led the Hokies at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
» Illinois was led offensively by senior Kelly Ryono, who went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
» Junior Lauren Wiles led the Fighting Illini pitching staff, throwing 3.2 innings of nine-run ball.
Gallery: (2-9-2024) SB: Opener vs. Illinois at Auburn