No. 12 Virginia Tech softball mounted a near two-run comeback and loaded the bases with a chance to pull ahead against No. 21 Virginia, but ultimately fell for a 4-3 defeat at Palmer Park.
Down 4-1 in the top of the sixth inning, Hokies left fielder Nora Abromavage drew a walk. First baseman Michelle Chatfield reached on a fielder’s choice, but an error put Abromavage on second base. Then second baseman Rachel Castine walked to put runners on all three bases.
Right fielder Gaby Mizelle knocked an infield single soon after to make the score 4-2. One out later, center fielder Addison Foster drew a walk to add a run, bringing up third baseman Jordan Lynch — who entered the game with a .469 batting average.
Lynch flew out to left field to end the rally. She went 0-for-4 on Friday, ending an 11-game hitting streak.
The Hokies (34-6, 9-4 ACC) scored first in the fourth inning after Tech starter Emma Mazzarone and Virginia arm Eden Bigham traded zeroes for three frames. In the fourth, Hokies designated player Kylie Aldridge doubled around Abromavage.
But in the bottom of that inning, Virginia second baseman Alex Call slammed a 229-foot, three-run home run over the wall in left-center field. An inning later, Cavaliers first baseman Macee Eaton gave her team another insurance run with an infield single, bringing around shortstop Jade Hylton from second base.
Mazzarone went all six innings for Virginia Tech and, though she kept her team in the game, picked up her third loss of the year. She surrendered four runs, four hits and two walks, while she struck out seven batters. Her main blemish was the three-run bomb — just the ninth home run she has allowed this season in 87 ⅔ innings across 18 appearances.
Bigham countered Mazzarone for the first 4 ⅓ frames, then Julia Cuozzo followed for the final 2 ⅔. Bigham kept one of the country’s most prominent offenses in check; she gave up just two hits and one run. She walked four batters and struck out five.
Cuozzo allowed two runs — both unearned — and a hit, though she accrued one strikeout and three walks. Tech got runners on base, but Virginia worked to strand eight of them.
The main problem was Virginia Tech’s bats went cold. The Hokies hit 3-for-25 across the game, with their only hits coming from Foster, Aldridge and Mizelle. They worked seven walks in the process, but their 2-for-12 rate with runners on base — including a 2-for-9 clip with someone in scoring position — proved problematic.
The Cavaliers only hit 4-for-22, so they were far from flawless at the dish. Plus, Mazzarone — who often points to her command as an area of her game that can be improved — walked just two batters. But the home team went 4-for-8 with runners on base, including 2-for-4 with someone in scoring position.
Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour often says situational hitting is no different from other hitting. A pitcher stands 43 feet from home plate, releases and the batter must try and make contact. However, Virginia simply found more success in that area on Friday.
The first game of the three-game set in Charlottesville felt similar to last weekend’s first game against Clemson. In that, the Tigers were coming off a sweep against Florida State and made just enough plays against Mazzarone to succeed. Duke swept Virginia last weekend, and rebounded to barely nick past the Hokies.
It’s worth noting that Virginia Tech pushed back to defeat Clemson last weekend. It is not a guarantee that the same situation will unfold on Saturday and Sunday in Charlottesville, but D’Amour’s squad has shown resilience throughout the season.
The Hokies will attempt to reenact the end result of last weekend across the next two days. Their first attempt will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
Box Score: No. 21 Virginia 4, No. 12 Virginia Tech 3