Virginia Tech softball wrapped up its second weekend action of the season, splitting four games in the Queen City Classic after starting 5-0 in the Gamecock Invitational earlier this month.
Game 1
To start the weekend, Virginia Tech took on Villanova, with Emma Mazzarone in the circle.
The Hokies kicked off the action in the second inning with a Nora Abromavage two-run blast to take an early lead. In the next two innings, Zoe Yaeger added an RBI double and a three-run home run to make it a 6-0 lead. Gaby Mizelle added another RBI.
Addison Fisher tokk over in for the final three innings after Mazzarone threw a hitless first four innings with eight strikeouts.
Villanova would tag on three runs late with a two-run homer and an RBI single, but the early lead was too much for the Wildcats.
Game 2
Immediately after the Hokies' first win, they squared off against Michigan State, with Sophie Klieman getting the start.
Virginia Tech got out to an early lead with two RBI singles from Jordan Lynch and Abromavage off of Michigan State’s Jacey Schuler. Rachel Castine then opened the second inning with a solo shot to give the Hokies a three-run lead.
The Spartans answered back with a six-run inning to take the lead. The rally started with a single from Kirsten Caravaca, which brought in two runners. She was followed by a two-RBI double, which led to Bree Carrico being inserted for Klieman. However, the bats stayed hot as the Spartans added two more runs, making it a 6-3 lead for Michigan State.
In the fourth, Jordan Lynch brought it to a one-run game after a two-run homer, but the Spartans added another run to their lead with an RBI single, which happened to be the game-winning run. Kyle Aldridge added an RBI single, but the Hokies fell just short of another comeback, taking their first loss of the year, 7-6.
Game 3
The Hokies and the Wildcats faced off once more, as Bree Carrico got her first start of the season.
The second inning is where the action took off, as Villanova got on the board first with two RBI singles that gave the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead. The Hokies responded in the bottom of the second, when Aldridge scored off a groundout from Mazzrone, then Mizelle tallied her first two-run blast and her first career home run to give the Hokies a one-run lead.
The two teams both tallied another run in the third inning, in which Yaeger homered in her at bat.
In the fifth inning, Virginia Tech got hot, scoring eight runs, leading to a run rule. Michelle Chatfield got the innings started with an RBI single, followed by a two-RBI double by Abromavage. Mazzarone and Mizelle added an RBI single each. Virginia Tech added one more run via an error to close out the game, 11-3.
Game 4
In its final game, Virginia Tech took on the host team in the Charlotte 49ers. Emma Mazzarone got her second start of the weekend.
This game was much more of a pitchers' duel than the first three games, as the first runs didn’t come until the bottom of the fourth, when the 49ers scored off of a wild pitch. The following inning, they added two more runs courtesy of a two-RBI double down the infield line by London Dirks that extended CHarlotte's lead to 3-0.
Virginia Tech added two runs by way of an Abromavage double, but tose were the Hokies' only runs of the game. Charlotte’s Jaylah Jerell later blasted one over the center field wall to solidify a 4-2 win for the 49ers.
Virginia Tech's bats could not get much going on the offensive end, as Charlotte’s pitcher Taylor Jones had her way most of the game, and only gave up four hits through all seven innings.
It was an overall disappointing weekend for the Hokies, who fell to two unranked teams. Through the Hokies' first nine games, the team is still finding their groove and identity.
Virginia Tech is on the road again for the Georgia Classic to take on Seton Hall, Utah State, and Georgia this upcoming weekend.
