Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – No. 12/14 Virginia Tech secured the series win against NC State with an 11-3 (6) run-rule victory on Saturday.
Tech was firing on all cylinders as seven Hokies recorded a hit and four recorded an RBI. Additionally, Bree Carrico was lights out in the circle as she gave up just one hit and struck out six batters over 6.0 innings pitched.
The victory marked head coach Pete D’Amour’s 300th win at Virginia Tech, achieving the milestone in just his eighth season at the helm of the program.
How It Happened
NC State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with no outs in the top of the first before the Hokies put in Bree Carrico to pitch. After giving up a single for the Wolfpack to extend the lead, Carrico got out of the bases-loaded jam with two strikeouts and a groundout to second.
The early Wolfpack lead did not phase the Hokies as they immediately tied the game in the bottom of the first. Addison Foster led off the inning with a double, and Michelle Chatfield and Zoe Yaeger drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Nora Abromavage wasted no time and delivered a two-RBI double to left center to cut the lead to 3-2. The Hokies capped off the inning with Kylie Aldridge scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game.
The Hokies took the lead in the bottom of the second off a Rachel Castine solo shot to left center. Castine recorded her second of four RBIs on the day in the bottom of the third as she drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-3.
Tech exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 9-3 lead. After back-to-back singles from Jordan Lynch and Chatfield, Zoe Yaeger delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to bring them both in. Abromavage and Castine both recorded RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to round out the inning.
Chatfield’s RBI single to center scored Lynch in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 10-3. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Rachel Castine hit her second home run of the game to walk it off against the Wolfpack.
Coming into the game with runners on the corners in the top of the first, Carrico allowed just one hit the rest of the game and struck out six Wolfpack batters.
Game Notes
• Pete D’Amour achieved his 300th win at Virginia Tech
• Tech improves to 31-23 in all-time matchups against NC State
• Tech is 2-0 at Tech Softball Park this year
• Tech’s 11-3 win marks the Hokies’ 11th run-rule victory of the year
• Tech recorded double-digit hits for the 20th time this season
• Tech has scored 10 or more runs for the 11th time this year
• Tech currently has seven batters hitting above .370
• Rachel Castine hit her eighth and ninth home runs of the season and now leads all Hokies with nine home runs
• Castine went a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with a team-high four RBIs
• Carrico improved to 7-0 on the year with a team-best 1.45 ERA
• In her past two appearances, Carrico has tallied 16 strikeouts and allowed just one hit over 10.0 innings pitched
Up Next
No. 12/14 Virginia Tech (27-4, 3-2 ACC) takes on NC State (19-12, 1-4 ACC) in the series finale on Sunday, March 22 at noon at Tech Softball Park. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra.