Virginia Falls 6-0 to No. 19 Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the second straight day at Palmer Park, No. 19 Virginia Tech (18-4, 2-0 ACC) rode a shutout effort in the circle to earn a 6-0 win over Virginia (8-11, 0-5 ACC) on Saturday (March 6) afternoon.
 
Virginia recorded just three singles off Hokie ace Keely Rochard (13-3). Freshman Katie Goldberg (Atlanta, Ga.) finished 1-for-3 at the top of the order, nearly adding a second knock on a hard line drive, to lead the Cavaliers at the plate. Molly Grube (Chesterfield, Va.) took the loss for Virginia despite a strong start. She allowed four runs, three earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
 
Rochard was dominant again for Virginia Tech, tossing her second shutout in as many days. She struck out seven while scattering the three singles.

KEY INNING
A hit-by-pitch and an error put runners at the corners with just one out for Virginia Tech in the fourth. Kelsey Bennett drove both runners home with a double over the third base bag. The double was also the first base hit of the game for either team.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech struck first in the pitchers’ duel, scoring a pair of runs on its first hit of the ball game. Bennett’s double inside the third-base bag would be all the run support Rochard would need on the day.
 
The Hokies added two in the fifth, using a double and bunt single to put two runners aboard. A sacrifice fly from Darby Trull and RBI-groundout from Grace Chavez pushed the runs across home.
 
Virginia moved runners into scoring position twice in the game, stranding both at second. Goldberg singled in the bottom of the fourth to break up Rochard’s no-hit bid while Emma McBride (Magnolia, Texas) singled to lead-off the sixth.
 
Virginia Tech scored twice more in the seventh, as a walk and bunt single set the table. Trull grounded out for her second RBI of the day before Chavez beat out the throw on a diving stop from Mikaila Fox (Ocean Springs, Miss.) to record her second RBI.
 
Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.) added a single to open the bottom of the seventh, but the pinch runner was doubled off on a lineout as Rochard secured her second-straight shutout.

ON THE LINES
• McBride’s single was her second hit of the season. She’s now 2-for-4 on the year.
• Grube struck out three while allowing just three hits in her 4 1/3 innings.
• Mackenzie Wooten (Windsor, Va.) allowed two runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
• Friedman has now hit in 13 of the past 14 contests.
 
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.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia and Virginia Tech conclude the series on Sunday (March 8) with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Palmer Park.