No. 18 Virginia Tech softball left 14 runners on base and let a tied game after five innings slip away in its 9-2 loss to No. 23 Virginia on Sunday.
With two outs and the bases juiced in the bottom of the fifth, Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour approached home plate umpire Jim Cooper to make a substitution. He mistakenly told the crew that he was pinch hitting Jayden Jones for designated player Emily LeGette, when he meant to replace left fielder Lyla Blackwell.
Following an extended review process, the umpire crew determined Tech committed an illegal substitution — an automatic out. Instead of Emma Mazzarone hitting with the score tied at two, the violation extinguished the Hokies’ rally.
“It was totally on me,” D’Amour told Tech Sideline. “I went up and had the right idea, but I gave them the wrong number. It won’t happen again.
“I told the players at the end of the game that it’s a real life lesson. I’m going to get hammered for it. Did it lose the game for us? I don’t know. But it’s the same thing for kids. If you strike out with the bases loaded, do better next time.”
The Cavaliers (17-4, 1-2 ACC) dominated after that. First baseman Macee Eaton knocked a solo homer during the top of the sixth, granting her team a 3-2 lead. After a strikeout and a walk, catcher Sydney Hartgrove blasted her second home run of the day — a two-run blast which boosted Virginia to a 5-2 lead.
After the Hokies (19-5, 2-1 ACC) left the bases loaded again in the sixth, the Cavaliers opened the floodgates with more insurance runs in the seventh. First, second baseman Bella Carbal hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring left fielder Kailyn Jones. Then Eaton singled in center fielder Kelly Ayer and shortstop Jade Hylton. Finally, pinch runner Kamyria Woody-Giggetts reached home on a walk.
Emma Lemley held Virginia to two runs through five innings, but her sixth and final frame was where her opponent found success. She surrendered four hits, five runs and three walks while striking out six. Four of the five hits she allowed were home runs.
Cassie Grizzard and Sophie Kleiman combined to pitch the seventh frame. Grizzard gave up three hits and four runs while picking up the first out. Kleiman induced the last two outs, giving up a hit and two walks.
Virginia’s pitching was much more effective. Savanah Henley threw the first three frames and gave up both of Tech’s runs. Eden Bigham — the Cavaliers’ ace — was in the circle for the last four. Though Bigham walked seven batters, she picked up three strikeouts and did not allow a run in her 104 pitches.
Hokies second baseman Rachel Castine hit third for the first time this season and cashed in with an RBI double in the third inning. Later that frame, catcher Zoe Yaeger scored Castine with an RBI single.
Sunday’s game marked Virginia Tech’s first loss at Tech Softball Park since April 30, 2023 — a 5-4 defeat to No. 6 Clemson. The Hokies had won the previous 19 at home, a span which included three home wins over Virginia.
For the first time, the Hokies and Cavaliers met as ranked opponents. UVa earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2024 for the first time since 2010, meaning the in-state rivalry carries more weight in a stacked ACC.
“Overall, we took two out of three against a top-25 team,” D’Amour said. “Our league is deep, and any time we can come out with a series win — you want to sweep, but we came out with two out of three.”
Virginia Tech will spend the next week traveling through the Bluegrass State, first with a midweek game against SEC opponent Kentucky on Wednesday, followed by a weekend series at Louisville from Friday to Sunday.
Box Score: No. 23 Virginia 9, No. 18 Virginia Tech 2