Bats Explode For No. 13 Virginia Tech In Doubleheader Sweep of Longwood

When No. 13 Virginia Tech lost two games to Duke over the weekend and scored just one run in back-to-back games, doubts were raised about the Hokies’ offense. After Tech’s midweek outings against Longwood, those questions may have been unfounded. 

The Hokies followed up on Sunday’s 13-8 win over Duke with a doubleheader sweep of Longwood Tuesday, 10-2 and 11-1. Both wins were in run-rule fashion. Tech registered 26 hits in the two contests, hitting .500 as a team (26-for-52), blasting three home runs and stealing eight bases.    

“I think one or two hard hits in game three Sunday took a little pressure off the offense,” Tech head coach Pete D’Amour told Tech Sideline. “We hit the ball well against Liberty last week but ran into two really good pitchers for Duke on Saturday and game one Sunday. That’s the way it goes. We can hit. It seems like if we go into games as the aggressor, we swing the bats better. If we’re defensive, we’re in for a long game.”

The Hokies came out of the dugout swinging on Tuesday, scoring eight runs in the first two innings of the first game. Emma Ritter was the offensive star as she tied a school record with three doubles in the contest.

She opened the scoring in the first inning, driving in Jayme Bailey and Kelsey Brown with her first double, then closed the scoring in the seventh with her third double, bringing Brown home with the game-clinching run.

In between, the Hokies scored in every inning but the fifth. Cameron Fagan had the only home run in the game — a two-run bomb in the second inning. Rachel Castine brought home two runs while Bre Peck and Addy Greene each had one RBI.

Ritter continued her torrid hitting streak in Game 2 with a two-run home run. In her last three games, the junior outfielder has gone 7-for-9 with eight runs and 10 RBIs. Those seven hits include three home runs and three doubles. She leads the Hokies in batting average (.393) and is tied for the lead in home runs (10) and RBIs (31).

“Emma is an All-American for a reason,” said D’Amour. “She’s struggled the last two weeks or so, but she’s back.”

Meredith Slaw and Bailey brought runs across the plate in first inning before Ritter and Fagan expanded the lead with home runs later in the contest. It was Fagan’s second shot of the day. Emma Yates capped off the scoring for Virginia Tech in the fourth with her first RBI of the season. The Hokies had a season-high six stolen bases, too.

Castine also hit home two more runs. Since getting the start at shortstop in the final game against Duke, she is 4-for-7 with five RBIs. Meanwhile, Brown looked like her old self on Tuesday, registering four hits and scoring five runs. D’Amour was understandably pleased with their performance.

“Kelsey and Rachel are talented players,” D’Amour said. “They’ve worked hard to be ready for their opportunities.”

D’Amour was also delighted with his pitching staff. Both Lyndsey Grein (7-3) and Molly Jacobson (4-10) threw complete games against Longwood, a team that defeated Florida State earlier in the year.

“Both Lyndsey and Molly have been throwing very well as of late,” D’Amour said. “Our radar gun says they’re throwing considerably harder than earlier in the year. Molly hit 67 mph tonight; she’s never thrown harder than 64 since she’s been on campus. That’s a big difference. Lyndsey threw quite a few 66s tonight. Both of them could have kept us in games tonight against anybody.”

Next up for the Hokies is a trip to Charlottesville for a three-game series with a much-improved Virginia team (25-11). The Cavaliers won five of their last six ACC games and have a team ERA of 1.82.