Virginia Tech Softball played closer to home this weekend as they hosted the Hokie Invite in Salem. They went 5-0 on the weekend which included wins against Michigan State and Penn State, improving to 21-2 in the process which is the best start in the Pete D'Amour era.
Here's a rundown on how the Hokies got the job done.
Game 1: No. 11 Virginia Tech 5, Michigan 3
The first game for Tech came against the Big Ten champions in Michigan as Emma Mazzarone got the start.
The Hokies' bats started out hot in the first inning as Nora Abromavage started the rally with an RBI single, followed by Jordan Lynch also knocking a base hit to bring in a runner. Addison Foster then ran around for a triple that brought in two runners, and then Gaby Mizelle capped it off with an RBI single. The Hokies would take an early 5-0 lead, which would be all their scoring for the game.
Michigan’s Erin Hoenn would break into their deficit with a two-run blast in the second inning. Following that, Emma Mazzarone held the Wolverines at bay up until she walked a run in to make it a 5-3 score in the fifth.
Bree Carrico came in for relief and closed the game out, picking up her third save of the season. The first inning was all the Hokies needed to pick up the win with some impressive pitching from Mazzarone and Carrico.
Game 2: No. 11 Virginia Tech 7, JMU 0
In the second game, JMU was on the docket for the Hokies as Avery Layton would get the start in the circle.
Just like the previous game, all of Tech’s runs came early, and Abromavage got the action started for Virginia Tech in the first inning, knocking an RBI single.
The scoring opened up in the second inning as Gaby Mizelle got things started with a solo shot to right field. Michelle Chatfield and Kylie Adlridge would knock back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 4-0. The inning was wrapped up with Abromavage tallying another RBI.
To finish the game’s scoring, Addison Foster popped off a two-run homer to make it a 7-0 lead in the third inning.
Avery Layton went for the first five innings, only allowing three hits with four strikeouts to continue her impressive start to the season season. Sophie Kleiman came in for the final two innings to finish the shutout against the Dukes.
Game 3: No. 11 Virginia Tech 7, Penn State 6
The third game came against Penn State, a newly added team to the round-up.
Bree Carrico got the start, but quickly exited after allowing three early runs. Penn State’s Brooke Klosowicz knocked an RBI double. Carrico walked in two runs after loading the bases. Mazzarone came in to finish the innings.
The Hokies, down early, had their first comeback of the game as Aldridge brought in a runner. Followed by a Jordan Lynch two-run shot to tie the game up at three a piece.
The Nittany Lions got the lead back from a Macy Chamberlin two-run homer to make it a 5-3 game in the second. Again the Hokies found themselves down, but with solo shots from Foster and Rachel Castine, each tied the game once again.
The pattern continued in the fifth inning as the Nittany Lions added another run on a fielding error. In the bottom of the fifth, Zoe Yaeger blasted a ball past the fence to tie the game one more time.
Avery Layton got in the circle for the sixth inning and took out the side in order. Just in time for Rachel Castine to launch her second home run of the game, which would be the game-winning run, making it 7-6.
The Hokies had four separate comebacks in the game to continue the impressive offense and to keep the winning streak alive.
Game 4: No. 11 Virginia Tech 8, Radford 2
For the fourth game, it was a New River Valley showdown between Virginia Tech and Radford.
Bree Carrico would return to start after her short time in the previous game. A much better game from the sophomore, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out four batters in five innings.
Gaby Mizelle opened up the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single through the middle of the defense. Yaeger knocked an RBI base hit to double the lead in the third inning.
The Hokies broke through Radford’s pitching in the third inning, putting up a six spot. Castine added another home run to build on her powerful weekend. Virginia Tech was up 4-0, but a Nora Abromavage grand slam quickly made it an eight-run lead for Virginia Tech.
The lead was too much for the Highlanders as they put up two runs before the game was over. An unearned run on Carrico and another one against Sophie Kleiman after she came in during the sixth inning. Virginia Tech picked up the rivalry win 8-2.
Game 5: No. 11 Virginia Tech 11, Bryant 1
In the final game for the Hokies, they took on Bryant with Avery Layton getting the start in the circle followed by Addyson Fisher, with both allowing one run combined in four innings of work.
Back-to-back home runs in the second got Virginia Tech started as Mazzarone and Jordan Bishop blasted one each. To cap off the inning, Bryant’s pitcher Chloe Jewitt walked in a run and then allowed a two-RBI double to Mizelle. A 5-0 lead for Virginia Tech in the second inning.
Bryant got one across home plate on a passed ball, but Jordan Bishop quickly erased that run with a solo shot in the third. That was her second home run of the game in the freshman's second start of her career.
The Hokies would resume scoring in the top of the fifth, starting with a two-RBI triple from Michelle Chatfield. Foster added another run with an RBI single and then was brought home by a Jordan Lynch blast to make it an 11-1 lead.
Cassie Grizzard entered the circle for the fifth inning and closed out the game, run-ruling the Bulldogs to win 11-1.
The Hokies continue to roll as ACC play looms. Virginia Tech faces Elon this Wednesday, the final game before they take on Duke to open up conference play.
