Virginia softball narrowly falls to Virginia Tech over the weekend

Virginia softball took a trip to No. 2 Virginia Technology this weekend break for the yearly Republic Clash in between the Cavaliers (23-21, 9-9 ACC) and also the Hokies (32-6, 15-2 ACC).

In the very first video game of the collection on Thursday, Virginia took a lead prior to Virginia Technology put 5 runs onto the Cavaliers, securing a 5-1 success for the Hokies.

The very first 3 innings were scoreless in between both groups, as Virginia’s elderly right-hander Aly Rayle and also Virginia Technology’s elderly right-hander Keely Rochard were regulating on the pile.

The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning when elderly outfielder Tori Gilbert blew up a one-shot crowning achievement to limbo, her 11th crowning achievement this year. It would certainly be the only time Virginia jumped on the scoreboard in the video game.

The Hokies reacted in excellent style, gathering 5 runs in all-time low of the 5th inning. Much more excellent was the amount of various gamers added to the ruptured of racking up — 4 of Virginia Technology’s 5 runs came off RBI songs, with 5 Hokies taping one RBI each. After the 5th inning, neither group had the ability to place a stumble upon, leaving the last rating 5-1.

Rochard (17-2) protected the win for Virginia Technology, pitching a full video game of 7.0 innings. She surrendered simply 3 hits and also one gained run, while strolling simply 2 joggers and also tossing 12 strikeouts. On The Other Hand, Rayle (4-5) was attributed with the loss as she tossed 4.2 innings, enabling 7 hits, 3 gained runs and also one stroll.

In the 2nd video game on Friday, the Cavaliers were established to also the collection up. Virginia placed a work on the board in both the very first and also 3rd innings, leading 2-0 heading right into all-time low of the 3rd inning. 

Junior infielder Gabby Baylog homered in the very first to make it 1-0, while student catcher Leah Boggs struck an RBI solitary up the center to earn elderly infielder Arizona Ritchie and also expand the cause 2.

The Hokies returned yet once again, however, connecting the video game up after racking up 2 runs in the 3rd from an RBI solitary and also a sacrifice flyout with the bases filled.

Not to be hindered, Virginia resisted in the 5th, as Gilbert brought fresher infielder Reece Holbrook house after striking a solitary up the center.

After That, in the 6th inning, junior infielder Katie Goldberg shattered a solo homerun on a complete matter to facility area to make it 4-2. Holbrook likewise increased in the inning to make it 5-2, batting in fresher outfielder Kailyn Jones.

The Hokies racked up a run in all-time low of the 7th inning off of a Cavalier mistake, however couldn’t assemble much else, as Virginia evened the collection with a 5-3 success.

Junior right-hander Molly Grube (1-2) obtained the win for the Cavaliers, pitching 6.2 innings and also surrendering 8 hits and also 2 gained runs, while strolling none and also starting out 5. Fresher right-hander Emma Lemley (12-4) took the loss for Virginia Technology. She pitched all 7.0 innings, enabling 9 hits and also 5 gained runs, strolling 5 and also starting out 8.

The collection hung in the equilibrium heading right into Saturday’s ending in Blacksburg, with Virginia seeking to protect a success versus a top-two rated group for simply the 4th time in program background. 

Virginia leapt bent on a 3-0 lead after racking up when in the 2nd and also including 2 even more in the 3rd. The Hokies reacted with a one-two strike of their very own, racking up when in the 4th and also racking up 2 runs in the 5th to connect the video game at 3-3.

Both groups maintained it 3-3 with the 6th and also 7th innings, so for the very first time this period, the Cavaliers mosted likely to fight in an extra-inning video game. 

Virginia struck as soon as possible when Goldberg released a solo crowning achievement to limbo, offering the Cavaliers hope of distressing the No. 2 Hokies once again and also securing the collection.

Virginia Technology was unphased, though. Junior infielder Meredith Slaw reacted for the Hokies, striking a solo crowning achievement of her very own to maintain the Hokies active in all-time low of the 8th inning. After that, elderly catcher Mackenzie Lawler struck a walk-off solitary to secure the win 5-4 and also the collection for the Hokies.

3 Cavaliers incorporated for the initiative on the pile, while Rochard (18-2) obtained her 2nd win of the collection. 

“What an affordable collection,” Train Joanna Hardin claimed. “I’m very pleased with our group and also just how difficult we combated and also completed mosting likely to added innings. If the round jumps in this manner or that, that recognizes, however you can constantly return and also consider what you ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda’ done.”

“We have a great deal of takeaways from this weekend break and also we’ll return to work with Monday,” Hardin claimed. “I’m proud of the battle, the competition and also the protection. This is Virginia softball.” 

Virginia has actually sustained a difficult 3 weeks in regards to the competitors they’ve dealt with — each of the previous 3 weekend breaks, the Cavaliers have actually taken on versus a top-13 rated group, consisting of the second-best group in the country two times. Florida State was rated 2nd, Fight it out was rated thirteenth, and also Virginia Technology was rated 2nd also.

The Cavaliers will certainly seek to maintain an also .500 speed in ACC play this weekend break as they hold Pittsburgh for a three-game collection in Charlottesville. The very first video game will certainly go to 4 p.m. Friday, with video game 2 collection for 1 p.m. Saturday and also the collection ending at noontime Sunday. All 3 video games will certainly be streamed survive ACCNX from Palmer Park.