Virginia Drops Pair at No. 22 Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia softball (16-25, 5-13 ACC) dropped both ends of its doubleheader at No. 22 Virginia Tech (37-6, 16-2 ACC) on Saturday (April 13) at Tech Softball Park.
 
The Cavaliers dropped a 1-0 pitchers’ duel in game one before suffering a 7-0 setback in the finale.
 
With the series victory, Virginia Tech earns a point in the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529. The Hokies now lead in the standings by a score of 8.5-6.5.
 
GAME 1: No. 22 Virginia Tech 1, Virginia 0
The front end of Saturday’s doubleheader featured the best pitchers’ duel of the year thus far, as freshman Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) and Keely Rochard combined to allow just a single unearned run.
 
Rayle (6-8) was saddled with the tough-luck loss despite scattering just six hits and not allowing an earned run. The right-hander struck out just one but kept the Hokie hitters off balance all day long.
 
On the other side, Rochard (16-3) retired 21-straight Cavaliers after allowing a lead-off double to Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) to open the game.

KEY INNING
An error to open the bottom of the fifth jumpstarted Virginia Tech. A single from Darby Trull was followed by an RBI-single from Lauren Duff to put the Hokies ahead 1-0. Rayle was able to escape the inning with a fly ball to left that turned into a double play as a Hokie runner failed to tag at second.

TOUCHING HOME
• The lone run of the game crossed in the fifth on an error and RBI-single from Duff.

ON THE LINES
• Rayle tossed her second career complete game in the loss, allowing just an unearned run on six hits.
• Busby’s double to open the game was Virginia’s only hit.
 
GAME 2: No. 22 Virginia Tech 7, Virginia 0
A four-run fifth broke open another tight affair in the second game of the day, as Virginia Tech completed the sweep with a 7-0 victory.
 
Aly Rayle (6-9) took the loss once again, allowing three runs in the start.
 
Carrie Eberle (21-3) earned the win for the Hokies, tossing her second complete-game shutout of the series.

KEY INNING
A two-out single from Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) put Virginia in business in the top of the fifth. It appeared as if Hayley Busby would put the Hoos on the board, but a leaping grab over the left field wall by Emma Strouth took away a two-run homer. The Hokies built off the momentum with a two-run double from Kelsey Bennett. Pinch-hitter Meredith Slaw followed with a two-run homer to break open a 7-0 lead after five.

TOUCHING HOME
• The Hokies scored a pair in the first off an RBI-double from Strouth and triple from Bennett.
• Mackenzie Lawter added another run in the second with a solo homer.
• The Hokies scored four times in the fifth on Bennett’s double and Slaw’s home run.

ON THE LINES
• Abigail Barber (Providence Forge, Va.) singled in the second inning to finish 1-for-2 at the plate.
• Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) added a single in game two.
• Busby produced Virginia’s fourth hit as part of a 1-for-3 performance.
• Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) worked five innings in relief and struck out seven.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia returns home to host Liberty on Tuesday (April 16) at The Park.