The Hokies travel to the Steel City this weekend to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers, who are a prime example of how quickly things can change.

Nine months ago, the Panthers were riding high. They had just won the ACC Coastal Division, going 33-18-1 overall and 16-6 in the conference. The played in the ACC Championship game, where they lost to eventual national champion Florida State on a walk-off 3 run homer in the bottom of the 7th inning. Coach Holly Aprile was named the ACC Coach of the Year. Things looked good.

Then Aprile was hired away by Louisville. The Panthers hired Jodi Hermanek to replace her. Hermanek had 14 years of experience as a college head coach, the last 9 years at Ohio University, where she won a tournament championship in the Mid-American Conference and guided the Bobcats to 2 NCAA bids.

“The mindset’s all about playing the big one sometimes,” Hermanek said when she was hired. “And to me, every single game’s a big one. It doesn’t matter if it comes against No. 1 or No. 250. Every game’s important.”

Pittsburgh returned 15 players from last year’s team, including senior infielder Olivia Gray, a preseason All-ACC selection and a 1st team All-ACC last year. The Panthers were picked 4th in this season’s preseason coaches’ poll. Hermanek said the team’s goal was to win 40 games this year. Things looked promising. Then the season started.

The Panthers lost 4 of 5 at the season opening College of Charleston Classic. Then, they were completely dominated in the ACC/Big10 Challenge, being outscored a combined 46-3 by Wisconsin and Nebraska. Those games may have started the snowball rolling, as the Panthers have struggled all season.

Currently, Pittsburgh stands at 4-22 overall, 1-5 in the ACC. The Panthers’ registered non-conference wins over Wichita State, Penn State, and Nicholls State before beginning ACC play. Then, they were swept by Virginia and lost the first two games to Duke before pulling out a late 5-3 win in the series finale. That game was a huge positive from Hermanek’s perspective.

”The message to this team has been that our glass is half full – remain positive,” Hermanek said. “In six of the last nine games, we’ve been in a winning position in the seventh inning. We are there to finish, and today, this team remained calm and resilient in the seventh inning to come out with the victory.”

The Panthers’ next game was Tuesday versus Ohio and they proved thier coach's point although they did eventually lose. In that game, they surrendered a 4-3 lead and allowed the Bobcats to score 6 runs in the top of the 7th only to come back and score 5 runs in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings. That sounds like a team that truly doesn’t quit.

Statistically, the Panthers reflect their record – they have been outscored 183-75.
Offensively, they are last in the ACC in Batting Average (.229) and 11th in Hits (147), Runs (75), Slugging Pct. (.347) and stolen bases (17-25). Their leading hitters are Freshman Katlyn Pavlick (.288, 9 RBIs), Junior Alexee Haynes (.269, 10 RBIs), and Senior Gabrielle Fredericks (.269). No other regular hits over .250.

Defensively, the Pitching is also struggling. The Panthers rank last in the ACC in ERA (6.23), Shutouts (1), Runs allowed (172), Earned Runs (148), Strikeouts (58), and Opponent’s Batting Average (.327). The Panthers rotate between 3 starters: Freshman Abby Edwards (2-5, 4.93 ERA, 13Ks in 55.1 innings), Redshirt Sophomore Brittany Knight (2-10, 5.50 ERA, 34 Ks in 76.1 innings) and Senior Taylor Rahach (0-7, 8.77 ERA, 8 Ks in 30.1 innings).

On the other end of the standings, the Hokies are continuing their hot start, already surpassing last year’s win total with a current 24-4 record, winners of 15 of their last 17. They have outscored their opponents 198-83 and are second in the ACC in batting average (.346) and Home Runs (46).

Offensively, they have been rolling with two .400 hitters and 8 regulars hitting .283 or better. :

**Darby Trull .452 average, 33 hits, 23 RBIs
**Emma Strouth .422 average, 38 hits, 6 HRs, 37 RBIs (14 in the last 5 games)
**Jayme Bailey .386 average
**Kelsey Bennett .382 average, 6 HRs
**Al Velazquez .352 average, 31 hits
**Lauren Duff .304 average (included because of her 15 starts)
**Caitlyn Nolan .289 average, 8 HRs, 25 RBIs
**Maddi Banks .283 average, 9-9 stolen bases
**Mackenzie Lawter .263 average (included because of her 18 starts)

In addition, Grace Chavez has gone 6 for 8 in the last 4 games and is batting .500 for the season (10 for 20) with 5 Home Runs and a slugging percentage of 1.300.

The Hokies’ pitching also has been a strength all season, ranking 4th in the conference with a 2.23 Team ERA, but leading the ACC in shutouts with 11, thanks to the 1-2 punch of Carrie and Keely.

**Carrie Eberle 15-1, 1.71 ERA, 74Ks in 102.1 innings, only 4 HRs given up
**Keely Rochard 9-3, 2.21 ERA, 96Ks in 69.2 innings, 6 shutouts

A Team comparison is at the end of my post.

On paper, it’s logical to be looking for a VT sweep. BUT games are never played on paper. For some reason, I’m uneasy about this series. Pittsburgh has been playing tough – even though they’ve been losing, and although the Hokies are generally playing well, you still have to execute each and every night. If they have a lapse, the Panthers could steal one.

Hopefully, the business-like Hokies will show up and get ‘er done. The returning Hokie players will no doubt remember that they were swept by Pitt last year, including a heartbreaking 5 run rally in the bottom of the 7th in the ACC tournament. Hopefully, they want revenge as much as I do. Hoping the Hokie Express keeps rolling.

Let’s Go Hokies!!!