After a few weeks when No. 17 Virginia Tech softball reverted away from its early-season form, it went up to Central New York to take the first game from Syracuse, 12-1, in five innings.
The Hokies (42-9, 16-6 ACC) earned their 17th run-rule win of the year.
Bree Carrico and Avery Layton combined to surrender just three hits and one run to the Orange (18-24, 4-16 ACC). Carrico threw the first three frames and gave up all the hits and runs, accruing three strikeouts and a walk. Layton finished the game in two innings and held Syracuse hitless — though she walked three batters to go with two strikeouts.
Tech’s arms held Syracuse to a 3-for-18 clip, including 1-for-9 with runners on base and 0-for-2 with someone in scoring position.
On the other side, Virginia Tech’s offense was strong from the start. Hokies left fielder Nora Abromavage scored center fielder Addison Foster with a double. Later in the frame, first baseman Michelle Chatfield knocked a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing around third baseman Jordan Lynch and making the score 2-0.
The sacrifice fly marked Virginia Tech’s 20th of the year, breaking the single-season program record.
In the second inning, Lynch slammed a three-run homer — plating herself, Foster and shortstop Annika Rohs — to build a 5-0 lead. One frame later, Foster expanded the lead to seven, after doubling home Rohs and pinch runner Lily Pallante.
Orange first baseman Madison Knight tallied her team’s only run of the afternoon with a third-inning home run off Mazzarone. That limited Syracuse’s deficit to 7-1, though Tech pushed ahead further in the fourth and fifth.
The fourth frame brought a three-run blast from Hokies second baseman Rachel Castine, converting herself, Abromavage and designated player Kylie Aldridge. For good measure, Chatfield singled around Rohs and Abromavage in the fifth, building the decisive 11-run advantage.
Virginia Tech grabbed 11 hits on Friday and has 510 knocks this season — nine away from the single-season program record. It has outhit its opponent in 46 of 51 games played in 2026.
Syracuse split time in the circle between two arms: Julianna Verni and Sydney Jackson. Verni lasted just 1 ⅓ innings, allowing five runs — four earned — and four hits, accruing one strikeout and three walks. Jackson allowed the last seven runs, seven hits and four walks to go with three punchouts of her own.
Seven of Tech’s 12 runs came with two outs, marked with a 3-for-8 hitting rate down to its last out of an inning. In other situations, the Hokies finished 9-for-19 with runners on base, including 5-for-11 with someone in scoring position.
The Hokies will attempt to secure their second consecutive series win on Saturday, when they rematch Syracuse at Skytop Softball Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.