It took a little while to get the bats warmed up, but the #3/#2 Virginia Tech softball team (31-5, 14-1) defeated the University of Virginia (22-20, 8-8) 5-1 Thursday night in the opening game of their ACC series.

The win was the Hokies 13th consecutive victory over UVA and their 18th win in their last 19 tries. In those 13 wins, the Hokies have outscored the Hoos 77-11.

However, the early stages of Thursday’s game did not go like the previous dozen. Virginia starter Aly Rayle (4-5) pitched well early and Tori Gilbert stacked UVA to a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

However, the Hokies bats arrived in the bottom of the fifth.

Kelsey Brown blasted a triple to center field and scored on a Jayme Bailey single, chasing Rayle from the game. Then reliever Mackenzie Wooten gave up consecutive singles to Mackenzie Lawter and Cam Fagan before a Darby Trull double gave the Hokies a 3-1 lead.

Rayle re-entered the game, but singles by Emma Ritter and Meredith Slaw drove in two additional runs to make the cushion 5-1. The single was Slaw’s second of the game, continuing her torrid hitting streak (10 of her last 16).

Rochard would make the lead stand up, surrendering only 3 hits in the contest, striking out 12.

The VT ace has now started (and finished) 7 games in her career against UVA and has a 7-0 record with a 0.29 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 48 innings.

Hokies Coach Pete D’Amour was not surprised at his team’s slow start Thursday night.

“We had a very average practice yesterday,” D’Amour told Techsideline, “and I sensed the team was a little too loose prior to the game. For the first time this year I felt like we thought we could just show up and win. It doesn’t work like that. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day in college softball.”

“I give credit to Virginia’s starter,” he continued. “She was very good tonight and she’s been a great pitcher her whole career. Thankfully we strung together some good at bats in the 5th and Keely did her thing as she usually does. I’m hoping for a little more intensity out of our team the next two days.”

One of the largest crowd of the season, 830, watched the game and D’Amour was very complementary of the energy they provided.

“I want to thank all of the fans that came out tonight,” said the VT skipper. “It was an environment that rivals some of the best stadiums we’ve played in this year.”

Game two of the series will be Friday night at 6:00 and is scheduled to be shown on ACCNX.

Below: Kelsey Brown's triple got the Hokies rolling in the 5th inning (Photo courtesy of HokieSports)



[Post edited by VTChip at 04/15/2022 01:33AM]