CHARLOTTESVILLE — Nothing in Florida State’s 2-1 win over Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament championship game on Saturday implies complete domination.
The No. 1 seed Seminoles (49-8) controlled much of the game against the No. 3 seed Hokies (46-10), but Tech had its fair share of chances.
Hokies third baseman Jordan Lynch scored on an error in the top of the first, after first baseman Michelle Chatfield grounded a single to Seminoles shortstop Isa Torres. Torres miraculously grabbed the chopper, but her throw to first base bounced and rolled past the bag — letting Lynch cross home plate and obtain a 1-0 lead.
“We had two outs, so I was thinking I’m going four no matter what,” Lynch said. “And then they made that error, so I was so excited to see Michelle getting fired up on second. It was just really fun.”
That’s when Florida State grabbed its only runs. Seminoles center fielder Kennedy Harp doubled around right fielder Bella Ruggiero in the bottom of the second, then advanced to third base on the throw home. Harp eventually ran home on a passed ball. That made the score 2-1 in favor of the top seed, and it remained that way through the rest of the contest.
Tech loaded the bases in the sixth. Center fielder Addison Foster singled, then stole second. Lynch struck out and left fielder Nora Abromavage grounded out to second base, putting Foster on third with two outs.
Chatfield followed that up with a walk before designated player Kylie Aldridge launched the first pitch she saw barely foul over the right-field wall. She responded by taking four straight pitches outside of the strike zone, loading the bases.
Hokies second baseman Rachel Castine took a first-pitch ball, missed the second pitch and lined out on the third pitch to Torres at short. That ended the rally and Tech’s best chance to nab runs on Saturday. It was the program’s first conference title game appearance since 2012.
“We’re gonna forget about it,” Lynch said. “We’re just gonna move on to whatever’s next.”
Hokies starting pitcher Emma Mazzarone tossed the first two frames, allowing two runs — one earned — and a hit, along with four walks and strikeouts apiece. Hokies head coach Pete D’Amour removed her in favor of Avery Layton at the start of the third, who saw her first innings of the tournament. Layton finished the game with four shutout innings, accruing a strikeout and a walk in the process.
“Felt more comfortable bringing [Layton] in at the start of an inning than relieving — and she did a good job,” D’Amour said.
Bree Carrico has been Tech’s No. 2 pitching option throughout much of the season behind Mazzarone. The ACC Freshman of the Year started Friday’s semifinal against Duke and left in the sixth inning with forearm tightness.
On Saturday, Carrico spent some time warming up in the bullpen and walked back and forth between there and the dugout, consulting with trainers on the field in the middle. D’Amour, however, said she was available.
On the other side, Florida State pitcher Jazzy Francik pitched like the ACC Pitcher of the Year she is. She went six innings across two stints in the circle, allowing just one unearned run and racking up six strikeouts.
Ashtyn Danley entered for five batters in the middle of the game and showcased her dramatic speed mix. She allowed a hit and a walk, then Florida State head coach Lonni Alameda reinstated Francik to finish the game.
“They’re very different pitchers,” Lynch said. “Francik has got that slow off-speed, and then Danley comes in with that hard drop. It was a little hard to adjust, but we did our best.”
Virginia Tech was seeking its first ACC championship since 2008. The three-game stretch at Palmer Park marked the first time in D’Amour’s tenure that the Hokies advanced past the semifinal round.
“We were playing for the trophy, so that’s different [than in previous years]. We’ve had some really good teams in the tournament, and things haven’t gone our way,” D’Amour said. “There is a certain aspect when you get somewhere you haven’t been before … where it’s new — and I don’t think our kids freaked out at all. They didn’t. It’s just go out and play. We’ll be prepared for the next time we’re here.”
The Hokies didn’t win it, though. They will wait until Sunday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2) for the NCAA selection show to learn where they will play a regional.
“If we host [a regional], we host,” D’Amour said. “If not, then somebody’s gonna be mad. And it’s not gonna be me. It’s gonna be the other teams that we play.”