Hokie ClubPITTSBURGH – No. 10/11 Virginia Tech split its Friday doubleheader at Pitt, winning the first game 21-0 (5 inn.) and losing 6-3 in the second game.
Tech’s 11 home runs in the first game were the second-most home runs ever hit in an NCAA game.
Nine different Hokies hit a home run en route to the new school and ACC record of 11 home runs in a single game. Additionally, Cori McMillan became the fourth Hokie ever to hit three home runs in a single game – breaking the single-season school record with her now-23 home runs on the year.
How It Happened: Virginia Tech 21, Pitt 0 (5 inn.)
Tech blasted four home runs in the top of the first inning. Cori McMillan got the party started with a solo shot to right field off the first pitch of the at bat. It was her 21st home run of the season as she tied her own Virginia Tech single-season record.
Jordan Lynch, Kylie Aldridge and Bre Peck went back-to-back-to-back and hit three consecutive solo home runs in the top of the first to give Tech the 4-0 lead to start the game.
After a quick inning from Emma Mazzarone in the circle, Tech found themselves with the bases loaded in the top of the second. Michelle Chatfield launched a straight shot to center field for her first grand slam of the season to extend the Hokie lead to 8-0.
Pitt had the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, but a strikeout from Mazzarone kept the Panthers off the scoreboard.
The home run Hokies continued to dominate the batters’ box. Zoe Yaeger launched a two-run home run in the top of the third inning to make it 10-0. In the top of the fourth, Rachel Castine and Trinity Martin became the seventh and eighth Hokies to hit a home run with back-to-back long balls.
Shortly after, McMillan hit her second home run of the day to become the Tech single-season home run record holder. With 22 home runs on the season, she broke her own single-season record of 21 that she set last season.
With the score at 15-0, Nora Abromavage hit a grand slam for her first career home run to extend the lead to 19-0. Immediately after, McMillan went yard for the third time – one of just four Hokies ever to hit three home runs in a game – to put the Hokies up 20-0. An RBI groundout by Kylie Aldridge rounded out the seven-run inning.
How It Happened: Pitt 6, Virginia Tech 3
The Panthers struck first in the bottom of the first with two runs scoring on a single to second base.
Despite the Hokies going scoreless in the first four innings, Emma Lemley was dealing in the circle. Through four innings, Lemley tallied five strikeouts and held the Panthers to just three hits.
It was not until the top of the sixth when the Hokies got on the scoreboard. With runners on first and third, Michelle Chatfield sent a three-run bomb to center field to give the Hokies a 3-2 lead.
The Panthers fought back and scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead and Tech was unable to complete the seventh-inning comeback.
Game Notes
Game One
• Tech’s 11 home runs in the first game are the second-most home runs hit in a game in NCAA history. The record is 13 by Oklahoma in 2021
• Tech’s 11 home runs were a new school record and ACC record
• Nine different Hokies hit home runs in the first game
• 10 Hokies recorded a hit as well
• Tech’s 21 runs were the most runs scored in a game this season
• Tech recorded its nation-leading 19th shutout with the 21-0 win
• Tech scored 10 or more runs for the 13th time this season
• The Hokies earned their 17th run-rule win of the season in game one
• Cori McMillan broke her own single-season home run record with her 22nd home run of the season. Her previous record was 21
• McMillan now stands at 23 home runs on the season after being the fourth Hokie ever to hit three home runs in a single game
• Michelle Chatfield and Nora Abromavage both hit grand slams and led the team with four RBIs
• It was Abromavage’s first career home run
• McMillan and Chatfield both led the Hokies with three hits
• Cassie Grizzard earned her second win of the season. She pitched 2.2 innings and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts
Game Notes
Game Two
• Virginia Tech lost its first ACC series of the season and are currently second in the ACC standings at 15-3
• This is the first series Tech has dropped to Pitt since the 2018 season
• Five Hokies recorded a hit in the 6-3 loss
• Michelle Chatfield hit her 12th home run of the season – a three-run blast to center
• She led the team with three RBIs
• Emma Lemley picked up her fourth loss of the season. The senior moves to 15-4 on the year
Up Next
No. 10/11 Virginia Tech (37-7, 15-3 ACC) travels to Cal (29-15, 6-10 ACC) for a three-game series beginning April 25 in Berkeley, Calif.