Virginia Drops Midweek Clash With No. 15 Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (28-14) closed out the home schedule on Tuesday night, falling in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash game against No. 15 Virginia Tech (32-9-1) by a score of 6-0 at Palmer Park.

The game counted as half a point in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech opened the scoring with a solo shot from Cori McMillan to lead off the second inning. The Hokies would put two on following the home run and Virginia turned to its bullpen for Madi Harris. An error at short loaded the bases before Kylie Aldridge singled to center to bring a second run home. Addy Greene then doubled with a bloop hit that dropped in shallow center to cap the scoring with two more runs as Virginia Tech took the 4-0 lead.

The Hokies got a home run from Bre Peck to open the third inning before a double to the wall in left from Aldridge pushed a sixth run home.

The 6-0 lead would hold as the Virginia pitching staff would keep the Hokies in check down the stretch, but the Cavaliers were unable to mount a rally at the plate.

Mikayla Houge (1-4) took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk in 1.0 inning of work. She left the game in the second with two on and no outs. Madison Harris closed out the final 6.0 innings for the Cavaliers. Harris allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Emmy Lemley (9-4) picked up the win, allowing two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in the shutout.

THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash is a rivalry between Virginia and Virginia Tech across all school-sponsored sports with 21 individual event points on the line.
• The school that accumulates 11 points or more will be crowned the winner of the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash trophy.
• Virginia currently holds a 9-6.5 lead.
• Virginia captured the Clash in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023, while Virginia Tech won the Clash in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The 2020 and 2021 clashes were canceled due to the pandemic.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“It was a disappointing way to end our home stretch. We came out competitive early and locked in at the plate, and Mikayla Houge gave us a great first inning. Then they put up a four spot, we had a ball drop in when we had an opportunity to make a big play and then our at bats kind of fell apart. I’m proud of Madi Harris and how competitive she was and putting up a bunch of zeros late in the game. The opportunity now lies ahead of us on the road. We’ve played well on the road and now we need to bounce back and take the chances ahead of us on the road. We need to attack the goals we set for ourselves for this season.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia heads out on the road for a three-game series at No. 3 Duke this weekend. Game one is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday (April 19) while game two is at 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 20). The finale is set for noon on Sunday (April 21).