Virginia Drops Midweek Tilt With No. 19 Virginia Tech
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia softball team (8-17) dropped the second game of a pair of midweek, non-conference games with No. 19 Virginia Tech (20-5), falling by a score of 9-1 at Palmer Park on Tuesday night (March 30).
Aly Rayle (1-3) took the loss, working 3.0 innings in the start. Rayle (Herndon, Va.) allowed four runs – one earned – on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. She was one of four pitchers used on the night.
Keely Rochard (16-2) picked up the win for the Hokies, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Mackenzie Osborne closed out the game for Virginia Tech, working the seventh
Virginia Tech got runs in the first three innings, taking advantage of errors in each frame to help push a run home each time.
A big fourth inning extended the lead for the Hokies as a three-RBI triple from Jayme Bailey started the scoring. Kelsey Bennet then singled to right in the next at bat to push the fourth run home as Virginia Tech took the seven-run lead. The Hokies would then add a single run in the fifth to take the lead to 8-0.
Emma McBride (Magnolia, Texas) got the Hoos on the board in the bottom of the fifth, dropping an RBI single in just out of reach of the shortstop in shallow left to score Abigail Barber (). Barber entered to run for Mikaila Fox (Ocean Springs, Miss.) who reached with a double to left and then took third on a wild pitch to get into position for the McBride hit two batters later.
Virginia Tech got the run back in the seventh for the final 9-1 margin of victory.
NOTES ON THE GAME
• Abby Weaver has now reached base safely in eight straight games after her single in the second inning.
• Weaver also has a hit in back-to-back games, both against the Hokies.
• McBride’s single in the fifth pushed home the first run for UVA in the series since the series finale in 2018.
• Freshman Madison Harris worked a season-long 3.0 inning in her relief appearance to close out the game.
• Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before Virginia Tech turned a double play to end the game.
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will return to action on Thursday when the Cavaliers kick off a four-game series against Boston College at Palmer Park.