Grizzard Highlights No. 16 Virginia Tech Softball’s 10-4 Victory Over Georgia Tech

Cassie Grizzard earned the first ACC start of her career on Saturday and threw 3 ⅔ innings on the way to No. 16 Virginia Tech softball’s 10-4 victory over Georgia Tech at a packed Tech Softball Park.

“They were not ready for her,” Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said. “I think they prepared for riseballs, and we threw someone who threw different speeds and mostly down.”

In the 19 batters she faced, Grizzard allowed two hits and three runs, two of which were earned. She struck out one batter and walked four.

Saturday marked her first start since March 19 (Longwood) and first appearance since April 6 (NC State). 

“She threw well enough,” D’Amour said. “That’s what we expected. She went a couple times through the lineup and kept them off balance. She gave up a couple of runs, and that’s all right.”

Grizzard had appeared in nine ACC games before Saturday, spanning back to her 2023 season at Louisville. She was in line for the first ACC win of her career, but left one out short of the necessary four complete innings.

“It means a lot,” Grizzard told Tech Sideline after the game. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I was just giving them the ball and letting them play. It feels great to get it at Tech.”

Grizzard said pitching coach Josh Johnson gave her a heads up on Friday night that she might pitch on Saturday. When she arrived at the ballpark and learned she was starting, she said her mentality was to have fun.

“I’ve been putting so much pressure on myself recently,” Grizzard said. “I just want to go out and play for my girls, and I think that’s all I can do.”

Offensively, the Hokies (34-9-1, 16-4 ACC) picked up where they left off the night before. Just like Friday, center fielder Emma Ritter led off with a single. And in similar fashion, left fielder Addy Greene followed with a two-run homer.

“‘Middle and go’ is what I was saying to myself [before the home run],” Greene said. “It crossed the plate and that was the angle, so it worked out.”

Greene’s 10 home runs this season are four short of her career-best 14 from 2023.

“She’s having a hell of a year,” D’Amour said. “It’s no surprise to me because she’s having good at-bats and she has since day one.”

The Hokies didn’t let up, scoring runs in each of the next three frames. They notched four in the second when Yellow Jackets (29-19, 11-9 ACC) starter Sophia Voyles walked five batters in a row. It didn’t help Georgia Tech that designated player Maija Louko stole home during the second when catcher Reese Hunter threw to second after a wild pitch.

“That was a misplay, but it worked out for us,” D’Amour said.

Two more homers — from pinch hitter Trinity Martin in the third and first baseman Michelle Chatfield in the fourth — built a seven-run lead, 10-3, that proved insurmountable.

B4 | ATTA GIRL SHELLY🤯

Leadoff solo home run for @michellechatfi1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZNADLFHqtV

— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 20, 2024

Emma Lemley relieved Grizzard and provided contrast; Lemley throws hard riseballs, while Grizzard mixes speed and emphasizes her dropballs and changeups. Lemley pitched the final 3 ⅓ innings, allowing just one run and two hits while striking out three.

Three Yellow Jackets pitchers each threw two frames. Sophia Voyles picked up the loss and allowed six hits. Jaidyn Studebaker followed her and yielded four. Blake Neleman finished the game and allowed none.

D’Amour said he believes his Virginia Tech team, which is now on an eight-game winning streak, is playing more cohesively.

 “A lot of different hitters are stepping up at different times,” he said. “We’re having good at-bats, our pitching is keeping us in games and we’re playing pretty good defense.”

The Hokies will look to continue that cohesiveness on Sunday in the last game of their series against Georgia Tech at noon ET in Blacksburg.

Box Score: No. 16 Virginia Tech 10, Georgia Tech 4