RADFORD — In theory, No. 12 Virginia Tech softball’s 7-2 win at Radford was the same game as the previous weekend’s series against a strong Clemson squad.
The two teams met on a softball field that measured 220 feet from home plate to center field and 200 to the poles. The pitching rubber was 43 feet from home plate and the bases were 60 feet apart. Nine players filled each lineup, plus a pitcher who did not hit.
In reality, though, they weren’t the same. The result was the same as many of the results throughout the season — a Hokies (34-5) win — but an away game against a Big South opponent doesn’t carry the same weight as a conference series.
“They’re games that you have to play because you have to play 56 games,” Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said. “They don’t have the same oomph of conference games.”
Out of context, that could come across as D’Amour complaining or disrespecting the Highlanders (18-20). He wasn’t doing either of those things. Rather, he was noting that games against ACC opponents feel different than those against Big South teams.
“You make your money in conference [play],” D’Amour said. “You come here, or against any midweek [opponent], and you fear there’s a letdown — and there wasn’t today.”
The lack of a letdown started when the game did. Virginia Tech center fielder Addison Foster led things off by lifting a fly ball over the high right-field fence at the Radford Softball Stadium to go ahead 1-0.
The Hokies followed with a five-run third inning. Left fielder Nora Abromavage hit a double down the left field line, bringing around Foster and third baseman Jordan Lynch. She then scored off a double from first baseman Michelle Chatfield. Next, designated player Kylie Aldridge slammed a two-run blast.
Aldridge has hit three home runs in her last three games.
“We have a lot of tough practices in the fall and in the spring,” Aldridge said. “So, when you get in, heck, sometimes seeing pitching is a little bit easier after you’re trying to hit some balls super hard. So, I’m finally starting to connect with the ball and am seeing the benefits of it.”
Tech grabbed another run in the fifth inning when Chatfield knocked her eighth homer of the season. The junior obtained her 150th career hit with the aforementioned third-inning double and 151st off the homer.
“[Chatfield has] been swinging the bat well,” D’Amour said. “Just was more on time today. She’s a good hitter.”
Radford scored twice — once in the third with a sacrifice fly from second baseman Malli Groves, and again in the seventh with an RBI single from Groves. Otherwise, the Hokies’ arms kept their opponent in check.
Avery Layton made her first appearance since March 29. During her five innings in the circle, she surrendered three hits, one run and two walks, while she struck out four batters. She allowed runners in all of her first four innings in the circle, but stranded five runners on base.
“She got out of pressure situations,” D’Amour said. “I think the thing is if you’re a little bit sharper, you’re not in those pressure situations. So, it was good to work out of those.”
In her freshman season, Layton has a 3.16 earned run average across 14 appearances, accumulating 47 strikeouts in the process.
“She’s really getting a lot of confidence in her pitches,” Aldridge said. “So, I’m excited to see all of them start working for her — and just the confidence she has going out there and laying it all out for us.”
Sophie Kleiman relieved her in the final two innings, in which she gave up four hits and a run.
“We wanted to get some kids in that need work,” D’Amour said. “Avery didn’t throw last weekend, and we’re going to need her. Same with Sophie. We tried to get those two innings and see what happened.”
No disrespect to Radford, but Virginia Tech’s next conference series will carry more oomph. The Hokies will travel to face No. 21 Virginia, which just suffered a sweep against Duke. Just three of the 81 all-time Commonwealth Clash softball games have taken place when both teams are ranked. That number will double this weekend.
“I think we’re just trying to keep it one game at a time,” Aldridge said. “Attack them on Friday and just keep going.”
The in-state rivals will play their first game at Palmer Park on Friday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Box Score: No. 12 Virginia Tech 7, Radford 2