Virginia Downs No. 2 Virginia Tech 5-3 To Even Series

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Cavaliers by no means trailed on Friday (April 15) as Virginia (23-20, 9-8 ACC) used a pair of dwelling runs to assist seize a 5-3 victory at No. 2 Virginia Tech (31-6, 14-2 ACC) and even the weekend collection with the Hokies.

It marks the third time the Hoos have crushed the nation’s second-ranked group in program historical past.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored first for the second straight sport in opposition to the Hokies, plating a run within the first when Gabby Baylog homered to left area. The Hoos then doubled the lead within the third on an RBI single pushed again up the center by Leah Boggs that scored Arizona Ritchie.

Virginia Tech answered with a rally within the backside of the third, pushing two runs dwelling to tie the sport.

The Cavaliers moved again in entrance within the fifth inning with an RBI single pushed to left by Tori Gilbert that introduced Reece Holbrook dwelling. Holbrook reached on a stroll to open the inning earlier than transferring to second on a sac bunt and taking third on a wild pitch to arrange the rating.

Virginia prolonged the lead within the sixth with a solo dwelling run from Katie Goldberg and an RBI double from Holbrook that drove in Kailyn Jones. The Hoos would lead 5-2 after the sixth.

Virginia Tech used a fielding error with two outs within the seventh to deliver dwelling a run and maintain the sport alive, however the Hoos buckled right down to shut down the inning and seize the victory.

Molly Grube (1-2) picked up the win, working 6.2 innings and permitting the three runs – two of them earned – on eight hits. She struck out 5 and didn’t stroll a batter. Madison Harris picked up the save for her fifth of the season.

Emma Lemley (12-4) took the loss for the Hokies, permitting the 5 runs on 9 hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

NOTES ON THE GAME
• UVA beat a No. 2 ranked group for the third time in program historical past (5-4 vs. FSU – 2004, 2-1 vs. Arizona – 2010).
• It’s the primary win over Virginia Tech since a 9-8 victory in Charlottesville within the 2017 season.
• Gabby Baylog hit her third dwelling run of the season and introduced UVA to 33 dwelling runs on the season.
• The third-inning RBI single for Leah Boggs gave the UVA catcher 20 RBI for the season.
• Katie Goldberg’s sixth-inning dwelling run was her eighth of the season and gave her 28 RBI on the 12 months.
• Reece Holbrook’s RBI double within the sixth was her first double of the season and third RBI of the 12 months.
• Molly Grube’s 6.2 innings of labor was a season lengthy as she picked up the victory.
• Madi Harris tied the single-season report for saves along with her fifth to match Coty Tolar’s mark (2006).

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“Molly Grube pitched her butt off tonight. She got here out and was aggressive. She’s been working exhausting getting again into pitching form and had flashes of what we all know she’s able to doing. I’m pleased with her for sticking with it and placing it collectively. The offense had an excellent strategy with good at bats the entire sport. Lemley is a superb pitcher and we knew we’d have our fingers full. I’m pleased with the changes and placing up these runs late within the sport actually helped safe the victory. Tonight was one other testomony of what our group is able to once we stick collectively. The world could be a bit of stunned, however we aren’t as a result of we all know the work that’s been going into this each day. I’m pleased with everybody enjoying their position and doing their job tonight. It was enjoyable and we’re excited to get the chance to play once more tomorrow and have the possibility to win one other ACC collection.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia and Virginia Tech will shut out the three-game collection with a single sport at 2 p.m. on Saturday (April 16) on the Tech Softball Stadium. The collection is a part of the Commonwealth Conflict introduced by Smithfield and the winner of Saturday’s sport will declare some extent for his or her faculty within the annual competitors.