Virginia Tech (1-0) came back multiple times to earn a top-15 win against No. 14 South Carolina (0-1) in the season opener on Thursday with help from a seven-run sixth inning.
The first two innings were scoreless, despite both teams threatening to score. Addison Foster, the Stetson transfer, got her first hit as a Hokie and made her way to second, but the team couldn’t get her home.
Emma Mazzarone got the start in the circle for Virginia Tech, and had a rough start. After retiring the first batter, she hit back-to-back batters. After a fielder's choice, the Gamecocks had two runners in scoring position, but Mazzarone left them stranded.
In the second inning, Mazzarone and Jori Heard, South Carolina’s starting pitcher, retired the first three batters of the inning.
The Gamecocks were the first to tally a run in the bottom of the third after Karley Shelton scored off a wild pitch from Mazzarone. Building on the first run, the Gamecocks drew two walks prior to putting runners on the basepaths.
That one run was the only one surrendered by Emma Mazzarone. She finished the game with two hits, one run, five strikeouts, and two walks on 78 pitches. While it wasn’t the prettiest game, she held it together and kept the game within reach early on.
After the Gamecocks struck first, the Hokies responded quickly. At the top of the fourth, Jordan Lynch doubled, allowing Gaby Mizelle to later hit an RBI single up the middle for her first collegiate hit to tie the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Hokies went to freshman pitcher Addyson Fisher for her career debut. The Gamecocks took advantage of the pitching change, adding three more runs off of the freshman. South Carolina’s Shae Anderson doubled, and the next two batters drew walks to load the bases with no outs. Tate Davis seized the opportunity and had a two-RBI single. The Gamecocks then added another run courtesy of a Virginia Tech throwing error to make it a 4-1 lead.
Their advantage didn't last long. During the sixth frame, the Hokies notched a seven-run outburst. The rally started with a first-pitch rocket by Kylie Aldridge off of Emma Friedel, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Friedel loaded the bases, with Mizelle drawing a walk to add another run.
Friedel’s night came to an early end, leaving the bases loaded, as Heard was reinserted to clean things up. However, the pitching change didn’t close the floodgates, as Nora Abromavage hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game up at 4-4. Immediately afterwards, Mazzarone provided a two-RBI triple to give the Hokies a 6-4 lead. Two more insurance runs came from an error and an RBI double from Aldridge.
Kylie Aldridge had a strong start to her senior year with two hits, two RBIs, and a home run. Her home run was the catalyst for the comeback, shaking Friedel early on.
Jori Heard had a strong start for the Gamecocks, finishing with six hits, an earned run, and four strikeouts in five innings.
Bree Carrico would shut out the Gamecocks in the last two innings to close out a Virginia Tech win.
Virginia Tech starts the season with an impressive top-15 win, despite Michelle Chatfield and Jordan Lynch only going a combined 2-7 at the plate.
Tech continues the Gamecock Invitational with games against Binghamton, Winthrop, and a rematch with No. 14 South Carolina.
