Virginia Tech Softball Sweeps Day 1 In Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. — No. 17/21 Virginia Tech made the first day in Arizona a successful one as it extended its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 2-1 win over BYU, followed by a 9-0, five-inning run-rule victory over host Arizona State in the Littlewood Classic.

Although the offense continued its season opening proficiency, pitching was the story of the day for the Hokies (6-0-1). Lindsey Grein, Cassie Grizzard and Emma Lemley combined to limit their opponents to one run on six hits with 17 strikeouts and just three walks over 12 innings.

“Our pitchers threw well all day,” Tech head coach Pete D’Amour told Tech Sideline after the game. “We didn’t give up many walks and we kept the ball in the ball park.”

And the offense, after a slow start in Friday’s opening game, recorded nine runs on 11 hits in the nightcap.

Game 1: Virginia Tech 2, BYU 1

In the first game of the day, the Hokies relied on the strong arm of Grein and the efficient execution of small ball to defeat BYU 2-1.

Grein threw 6 ⅓ innings, allowing three hits while striking out 10 and walking just one. D’Amour brought in Grizzard, a left-hander, in the bottom of the fifth to face three lefties in the Cougar lineup, but re-inserted Grein around the beginning of the sixth to finish the game, which she did by retiring the next six hitters.

“Me and Kylie were really working together, throwing some riseballs and working in my secondary pitches,” Grein said after the game. “And of course, our defense was making some awesome plays behind us. Working as a team always works the best.”

BYU scored its only run in the third inning with two singles and a sacrifice bunt, but only managed two singles after that.

Meanwhile, the Hokies took advantage of a Cougar miscue and played small ball to take the lead in the fifth. Rachel Castine led off the inning with a pop-up that the shortstop dropped that allowed her to reach second. A groundout by Cori McMillan moved her to third and a single by Michelle Chatfield drove her in to tie the score.

Freshman Lyla Blackwell showed off her speed to generate the next run. After she was inserted as a pinch runner for Chatfield, Blackwell stole second, moved to third on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Kylie Aldridge, and then raced home on a passed ball.

Freshman Lyla Blackwell’s speed led to what proved to be the winning run for the Hokies versus BYU. After entering the game as a pinch runner, Lyla stole second, went to third on a beautiful sac bunt by Kylie Aldridge and scored on this wild pitch. Speed kills. 😳😀 pic.twitter.com/joZbnx6Ki2

— Chip Grubb (@Hokiechip) February 16, 2024

Game 2: Virginia Tech 9 Arizona State 0 (5 innings)

In Friday’s second game, the Hokies wasted no time in jumping on the Sun Devils’ Deborah Jones, who made her first start of the year.

After Emma Ritter led off with a single, Cameron Fagan drove her in with a double and then scored on a double by Addy Greene. A single by Castine moved Greene to third, where she scored on a Bre Peck sacrifice fly. After a walk to Chatfield, Emma Mazzarone’s first hit of the year plated Castine.

Solo home runs by Greene in the second and Chatfield in the third made the score 6-0 after three innings.

In the fourth, additional doubles by Fagan and Greene scored two more runs and a Peck single drove in Greene to cap off the scoring.

But Lemley was the story of the day. After struggling with her control last weekend, she looked like her old self as she limited Arizona State to two hits and struck out six.

“I felt great,” Lemley said after the game. “I just told myself before the game, ‘Just trust yourself. Just throw the ball as hard as you can because just trying to guide the ball in there is not going to work… Just let it fly.”

“Emma looked fine,” D’Amour said. “She didn’t give up many walks and she had good velocity and command.”

The Hokies move over to Grand Canyon’s campus for Saturday’s games and will face California at 12:30 p.m. ET and the host Antelopes at 6 p.m. ET, the latter of which will be televised on ESPN+.