Hokie ClubBATON ROUGE, La. – A six-run seventh inning propelled No. 11/14 Virginia Tech (48-11, 18-6 ACC) to a 7-6 comeback victory over Akron (35-25, 21-6 MAC) on Saturday night at Tiger Park in an elimination game.
Trailing 6-1 heading into the top of the seventh, the Hokies combined for seven hits and six runs – highlighted by a Michelle Chatfield two-run home run and a two-RBI double from Addison Foster – to secure the 7-6 comeback win.
How It Happened
It was a scoreless contest through the first two innings, but the Hokies’ offense got things started in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles from Gaby Mizelle and Annika Rohs put runners at the corners for the Hokies. With one out, Addison Foster’s groundout to second brought Mizelle home to give Tech the 1-0 lead.
Akron scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, the Zips ripped back-to-back RBI singles to take the lead. With the bases loaded, a throwing error by the Hokies saw two more runs cross the plate to make it a 4-1 game.
The Zips scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a double down the left field line to extend the lead to 6-1.
With their backs against the wall, the Hokies scored six runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead.
After Kylie Aldridge drilled a leadoff double, Michelle Chatfield launched her 15th home run of the season on the first pitch to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Back-to-back singles from Rachel Castine and Zoe Yaeger put runners on first and second for Mizelle, who singled up the middle to bring home Castine. Rohs followed her up with an RBI single of her own before Foster ripped a two-RBI double to left center to give Tech the 7-6 lead.
Avery Layton improved to 9-2 on the season after a lights out final 2.0 innings pitched. Layton recorded three straight strikeouts to end the sixth inning and two more to start the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for the Hokies.
Game Notes
• Tech advanced to its sixth Regional Final under head coach Pete D’Amour
• D’Amour earned his 400th career win
• Tech’s six-inning comeback win is the largest comeback win of the season
• The win marks Tech’s first comeback win of five or more runs since March 5, 2016 at NC State
• In the last 25 NCAA Tournaments, teams are 4-858 when trailing by four or more runs entering the seventh inning. Tech makes it 5-858.
• Tech tallied double-digit hits for the 33rd time this season
• Addison Foster broke the single-season doubles record with her 19th of the season
• Foster led the Hokies with three RBIs
• Michelle Chatfield hit her 15th home run of the season
• Rachel Castine, Gaby Mizelle and Annika Rohs each recorded two hits
• Avery Layton improved to 9-2 in the circle
• She led all Hokies with five strikeouts over 2.0 innings
Up Next
No. 11/14 Virginia Tech (48-11, 18-6 ACC) advances to Sunday and faces off against No. 18/18 LSU (39-17, 13-11 SEC) on Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. ET.