Virginia Battles To Extra Innings With No. 13 Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cavaliers hit three home runs and battled into extra innings on Thursday (April 6) as Virginia (25-12, 6-7 ACC) fell to No. 13 Virginia Tech (30-8, 10-3 ACC) by a score of 9-8 in eight innings at Palmer Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded home runs in the first inning with Virginia Tech’s Bre Peck hitting a three-run shot in the top of the inning before Jade Hylton opened the home half with a solo shot of her own.

Virginia Tech got the run back with an RBI single from Cameron Fagan in the second before adding a solo home run in the fifth from Kelsey Bennett.

The Cavaliers then put together a four-run inning in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. With two on, a fielding error at second on a fielder’s choice allowed the first run to score. Pinch hitter Tori Gilbert then blasted a three-run shot to left center and tied the game at five.

Virginia Tech pulled back in front in the eighth inning, plating four runs before the Hoos would get out of the inning. Shelby Barbee hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eight to cut the lead to 9-8 before the Hokies would close out the game.

Jenny Bressler (7-2) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.0 inning of work. Bressler entered in the seventh with two on before the Cavaliers turned a double play and she struck out the final batter of the inning.

Emma Lemley (18-3) picked up the win, allowing the eight runs  – seven of them earned – on nine hits. She walked two and struck out eight on the afternoon.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• Jade Hylton hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season to open the first for the Cavaliers.
• Tori Gilbert hit her seventh home run of the season and now has 31 home runs for her career.
• Shelby Barbee’s home run in the eighth inning was her first of the season.
• It was the 10th multiple-home run game of the season for the Cavaliers.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“What else do you expect in an in-state rivalry and great teams? I’m really proud of our team. We made adjustments throughout the game and got aggressive swings off. Shelby Barbee and Tori Gilbert came off the bench and hit bombs to keep us in it. What a game. I know our pitching staff has it in them to come back the rest of the weekend and get after it.

“We respect each other. This is a competitive series and what the series should be. I expect nothing less the rest of the weekend. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be exciting. If you weren’t planning on coming out to Palmer Park, you need to come on out Friday and Saturday and then enjoy your Easter Sunday.”

ON DECK FOR THE HOOS
Virginia and Virginia Tech continue the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Friday (April 7). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Palmer Park.

THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The rivalry between Virginia Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics has a long and storied history dating back more than 125 years within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers and Hokies first faced off on the gridiron in Charlottesville in 1895. First coined the Commonwealth Clash during the 2014-2015 season, the rivalry has expanded and intensified across the 22 sports the two institutions face off in head-to-head competition.
• The Cavaliers picked up one point with the victory today and lead this year’s Clash 8-7.