On Sunday’s senior day, No. 16 Virginia Tech softball tied its home run record en route to a 11-2 run rule win over Georgia Tech.
As the Hokies (35-9-1, 17-4 ACC) sat on 99 home runs this season, first baseman Michelle Chatfield launched a solo home run in the second inning. The blast was her 19th of the season, tying the program record for individual homers in a season.
“Everyone is playing behind each other,” Chatfield told Tech Sideline after the game. “I think we’re playing really well together and we’re really meshed. I think that’s really helping us.”
#⃣4⃣ touches 4⃣ bases with a ʜᴏᴍᴇʀᴜɴ! pic.twitter.com/CR1R2GiXBm
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) April 21, 2024
Just like the first two games of the series, the Hokies vaulted ahead in the first, though they trailed 1-0 early after a solo home run from Sara Beth Allen.
However, left fielder Addy Greene singled to bring home center fielder Emma Ritter in the bottom of the inning. Three batters later, second baseman Cameron Fagan walked to score Greene. Third baseman Bre Peck reached on a fielder’s choice, bringing in Chatfield. Next, designated player Trinity Martin scored Peck on a double and shortstop Annika Rohs singled in Martin. Like that, it was 6-1.
The Hokies combined to score 14 runs this weekend across the opening frame.
“We were ready to play from the first pitch,” Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said. “There were a lot of emotions going on today, but they put them on the back burner until the end of the game.”
Martin hit two doubles — one in the first and another in the fourth — and earned her third start of the season after hitting a pinch-hit homer on Saturday.
“I’m not really thinking about anything outside the box, other than going up there and giving my best swing to the best pitches I see,” Martin said. “It’s trying to be patient and trust that if it’s not my turn, it’s someone else’s turn.”
The Yellow Jackets (29-20, 11-10 ACC) deployed Chandler Dennis in the circle for the first time in the series. She saw the Hokies through the lineup once, but only recorded two outs and allowed six runs.
Blake Neleman relieved Dennis and surrendered five runs — four earned — while eating 2 ⅔ innings. Sophia Voyles got the last two outs.
On the other hand, the Hokies pitched by committee. They used Lyndsey Grein for the first two innings, Emma Mazzarone for the next two and Molly Jacobson for the last one. Although Grein allowed two solo home runs, they were otherwise efficient.
Jacobson pitched a scoreless inning on her Senior Day.
“Molly is one of those kids who totally transformed herself from her freshman year to now — off the field and on the field,” D’Amour said. “She’s a better player now than she was, so to be able to get her the opportunity was big.”
After the game, the team honored its graduating seniors: Ritter, Greene, Fagan, Jacobson and Maija Louko.
“They’re winners,” D’Amour said. “They’re going to leave here making regionals every year and supers. They’re good kids; I never have to worry about them off the field. They do everything we ask of them, and we’re going to miss them.”
Ritter, Greene and Fagan will conclude their careers in the top 10 in program history in home runs (they have all hit more than 29) and each currently sit in the top six in batting average with career averages of .340 or above.
“They’re everything to this team,” Chatfield said. “They’ve shaped this program in a way that I think a lot of people will never get to experience. I wish that everybody could experience having them as a group of seniors — or teammates in general — because they’re the best people on the planet.”
The Hokies will take a day off before welcoming Virginia on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Tech defeated the Cavaliers 6-0 in Charlottesville a week ago.
Box Score: No. 16 Virginia Tech 11, Georgia Tech 2 (5 innings)
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Senior Day already, wow. Really enjoy reading about the exploits of the softball team. It’s truly amazing watching and listening to the players and staff as they shape the program’s future. These senior players have pushed this team to greater heights, and there are more of them in the program. Also, its astonishing to me how, in this new day and age of college athletics, this team has so very little drama considering the mountain of talent. What a great group. I may be old school but, I guess a lifetime of memories, growth, and friendship can be a greater incentive than money. I do like that I can support the program, root for the team and, have interest in the players, by name, throughout their softball carrers.
Great win and continued teamwork. Hopefully FSU and Duke can each drop a few and our Hokies can continue their hot streak.