TUSCALOOSA, AL --The No. 16/12 Virginia Tech Hokies needed eight innings to get the job done, but secured the 8-3 extra-innings victory over the No. 13/15 Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday.
Junior Emma Lemley (6-2) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Virginia Tech (25-5-1). The right-hander went two innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out three. Sophomore Lyndsey Grein also made an impact in the circle for the Hokies, starting the ballgame and throwing six scoreless innings while allowing three hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the fourth inning. Junior Cori McMillan put Virginia Tech on the board with a leadoff home run off freshman Jocelyn Briski.
The Crimson Tide failed to push any runs across before the Hokies offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Senior Emma Ritter came across to score the lone run of the inning for Virginia Tech, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the Hokies.
Virginia Tech kept Alabama without a run before building their lead to 3-0 in the seventh inning.
The Crimson Tide then evened up the ballgame at three before Virginia Tech fought back to reclaim their advantage in the eighth inning. The Hokies scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of freshman Michelle Chatfield and a two-run single from senior Cameron Fagan, bringing the Virginia Tech advantage to 8-3. The score remained 8-3 for the rest of the game, as the Hokies coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Fagan racked up four hits on the day for Virginia Tech.
» Grein struck out six Crimson Tide hitters.
» Virginia Tech's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Four Hokies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hokies out-hit the Crimson Tide at a 14-6 clip.
» Virginia Tech pitchers limited Alabama to just 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Virginia Tech pitchers faced 33 Alabama hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Hokies drew four walks from Alabama pitching.
» Fagan led the Hokies at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
» Alabama was led offensively by sophomore Kenleigh Cahalan, who went 2-for-4 with two triples and two RBI.
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