Hokie ClubAUBURN, Ala. – No. 11/12 Virginia Tech opened the Jane B. Memorial Invitational with a 15-4 win over USC Upstate and a 9-5 win over Auburn on Friday.
Tech’s bats came alive, scoring 24 runs over two games. Five different Hokies hit a home run, and Bree Carrico and Sophie Kleiman each recorded a win on the day.
Game One • Virginia Tech 15, USC Upstate 4
The Hokies wasted no time getting on the board as Michelle Chatfield launched a solo shot from the leadoff spot to start the game. With Zoe Yaeger and Nora Abromavage on base, Jordan Lynch blasted her third home run of the season to make it a 4-0 game. An RBI double to right center from Gaby Mizelle capped off the five-run first inning.
USC Upstate bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the second, but a two-run home run from Mizelle – her second of the season, made it a 7-3 ball game through three innings.
The Hokies’ offense exploded for eight runs in the top of the fifth. Kylie Aldridge ripped a two-RBI double to right field, which was immediately followed up by a two-RBI single from Yaeger. Lynch added her fourth RBI of the day off her team-leading eighth double of the season to make it 12-3.
With runners on second and third, Rachel Castine launched a three-run blast off the scoreboard to make it 15-3. USC Upstate added one run in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 15-4 final.
Game Two • Virginia Tech 9, Auburn 5
Auburn jumped out to a quick 2-0 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second, but the Hokies battled back.
In the top of the fourth with runners on the corners, Rachel Castine delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Addison Foster.
With Chatfield on third, the Hokies capitalized on a throwing error by the Auburn shortstop to tie the game. Jordan Lynch then delivered an RBI single through the right side to give the Hokies a 3-2 lead.
Auburn’s three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth put the Tigers back on top, 5-3, but the Hokies responded immediately. After Gaby Mizelle led off the inning with a double, Annika Rohs doubled down the left field line to bring her in and cut the deficit to one.
Michelle Chatfield immediately delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Rohs and tie the game up 5-5. A single down the left field line from Zoe Yaeger scored Chatfield to give the Hokies a 6-5 lead. Nora Abromavage hit a two-run home run to cap off the five-run top of the sixth to extend the Hokie lead to 8-5, and a bases-loaded walk for the Hokies extended the lead to 9-5.
Entering the game in the bottom of the second, Bree Carrico was once again lights out for the Hokies. The redshirt-freshman recorded a career-high nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits and three runs over 5.1 innings pitched.
Game Notes
USC Upstate
• Tech is now 2-1 against USC Upstate in all-time matchups
• Tech’s 15 runs are a season high
• Tech also hit a season-high four home runs against USC Upstate
• Tech recorded 13 hits in back-to-back games
• The win also marks Tech’s third run-rule win of the year
• Rachel Castine, Michelle Chatfield and Gaby Mizelle hit their second home runs of the season
• Jordan Lynch’s home run marks her third of the year
• Lynch also led all Hokies with four RBIs
• Sophie Kleiman earned her third win of the season in the circle
Auburn
• Tech is now 3-2-1 against Auburn in all-time matchups
• Tech is 5-0 against when the opponent scores first
• The Hokies are 5-0 against SEC teams this season
• Tech recorded 13 hits in three straight games and outhit the Eagles, 13-9
• Tech has scored nine or more runs in five straight games
• Six different Hokies recorded an RBI against the Tigers
• Nora Abromavage hit her team-best sixth home run of the season
• Bree Carrico recorded a career-high nine strikeouts and is 4-0 on the year
Up Next
No. 11/12 Virginia Tech (13-2) continues competition at the Jane B Memorial Invitational with matchups against Troy and Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Auburn, Ala. The game against Auburn will be streamed on SEC Network+.