Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Behind home runs from Kylie Aldridge and Rachel Castine, the No. 13/16 Hokies (41-9, 15-6 ACC) defeated North Carolina (31-17, 9-15 ACC), 5-4, to secure the series sweep.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Castine’s two-run go-ahead home run propelled Tech over the Tar Heels.
How It Happened
North Carolina’s Emily LeGette launched a solo home run in the top of the first, but the Hokies responded right away in the bottom of the inning. After Addison Foster was hit by a pitch and Jordan Lynch singled to right field, Kylie Aldridge blasted a home run to dead center to take a 3-1 lead.
The Tar Heels punched back with two runs in the top of the third to tie it up and regained the lead on an RBI groundout in the top of the fifth to make it a 4-3 contest.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nora Abromavage led things off for the Hokies with a double to the gap in left center. With one out, Rachel Castine launched her 11th home run of the season to center field to give the Hokies the 5-4 lead.
Bree Carrico threw 4.0 innings before coming back into the game to earn her fifth save of the year in the top of the seventh.
Game Notes
• Tech is now 10-3 against North Carolina under head coach Pete D’Amour
• Tech has won nine of the past 10 matchups against the Tar Heels
• Tech swept its third ACC series of the year
• Tech outhit its opponent for the 45th time in 50 games
• Kylie Aldridge led the Hokies with three RBIs
• Aldridge hit her eighth home run of the season
• Rachel Castine hit her 11th home run of the year
• Both seniors, Aldridge and Castine homered in their final regular season game at Tech Softball Park
• Bree Carrico recorded her fifth save of the season
• Emma Mazzarone improved to 13-4 in the circle with her 2.2 inning of relief
Up Next
No. 13/16 Virginia Tech (41-9, 15-6 ACC) travels to Syracuse, N.Y. for the final ACC series of the season against the Orange (18-23, 4-15 ACC) from May 1-3.