Virginia Tech Claims Series Opener

BLACKSBURG, Va. – No. 22 Virginia Tech (35-6, 14-2 ACC) scored in each of the five innings on Friday (April 12) to take an 8-0 win over Virginia (16-23, 5-11 ACC) in the series opener of the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529.
 
Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) took the loss in the circle for the Cavaliers. She allowed six runs on five hits in her three innings of work.
 
Carrie Eberle (20-3) earned the win for Virginia Tech, tossing her 17th complete game of the season. She held the Cavaliers to just two hits in the game.

KEY INNING
With a 2-0 lead in hand, Virginia Tech struck for three more in the bottom of the second. Mackenzie Lawter lifted a solo home run to spark the inning. A pair of walks put two aboard and Emma Strouth drove them home with a two-out single.

TOUCHING HOME
• A two-run homer from Strouth put Virginia Tech up 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
• Lawter and Strouth produced RBI in the second to build the Hokie lead to 5-0.
• Al Velazquez led off the third with a double for Virginia Tech and scored on a groundout to make it 6-0.
• The Hokies added another run in the fourth off a double and groundout.
• Lawter capped the game with an RBI-double in the fifth.

ON THE LINES
• Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) broke up Virginia Tech’s perfect game with a one-out single in the fourth.
• Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) added a single in the fifth for the Cavaliers.
• Tabby Dabney (Mechanicsville, Va.) worked 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits.

THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH
The Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529 is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams at Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash encourages a friendly, statewide rivalry between the two schools across all school-sponsored sports with 22 individual event points on the line. The school that accumulates 11.5 points or more will be crowned the winner and take home the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented by Virginia529. Visit TheCommonwealthClash.com for more information and current standings.
 
The winner of this weekend’s series will earn one point in the standings.

UP NEXT
Virginia and Virginia Tech conclude the series with a Saturday (April 13) doubleheader at noon.