I know it unraveled, but wanted to give Mazzarone credit for the start vs.
Akron
After struggling with command and exiting the LSU game early, this was a good bounce back opportunity for her.
She largely cruised through the first three innings:
- The lead off batters singled to get on base in both the first and second innings, but, in each case, she erased the threats with the caught stealing, the double play, foul outs, and ground outs.
- She only went to a full-count twice in the first two innings and did not walk her first batter until the third inning.
- In fact, she didn’t allow more than one base runner until a walk and a single put two on in the third before strucking out the final batter in the third.
- Mazzarone was in control going into the fourth inning before the walks and the error led to the unraveling from the two consecutive singles for Akron scores.
And to give her more grace, the first walk... three of those pitches that were called balls were close. Two were deemed low and one was just off the outside edge. Even the batter hesitated on the 4th ball call. The announcer was wrong when she said that the pitches were not competitive... Maybe the second batter but not the first walk.
The second walk, she was a 1-2 in the count....then the next three balls were not close. One was high requiring a Yaeger lunge and the 4th ball was in the dirt past Yaeger.
. In fact, the next single had double play written all over it. Without the tough hop/error by Lynch, she might have gotten a double play to get out of the inning.
Point being, she was not pitching poorly.
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/17/2026, 11:54:14 AM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/17/2026, 12:08:59 PM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/17/2026, 12:10:18 PM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/17/2026, 12:11:24 PM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/17/2026, 12:14:58 PM
5 Replies
2mo
In the fourth inning, we got the correct call that only 2 runs scored, not 3.
And then the play at 2nd in the 7th inning
:)
Silver linings.
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
2mo
there still something going on with her arm?
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
2mo
that is Pete is still protecting her a little bit as she's just gotten into the business of starting. So you might have expected the Bree/Avery combo the first game*, "our best pitcher" then goes up against LSU etc. etc. 'course when you go to the losers bracket everything gets blown out of the water trying to preserve your pitching so you kind of had to go with Mazz for Akron to preserve the order and having something left for what is a double header today.
So, VT's not really in bad shape right now, everyone's pitched half games so - I mean it's not baseball where the pitcher is shot for a few days - so VT's got options, Bree and Avery starting? Mazz in relief? Pete's done a pretty good job managing the pitching. Today will be interesting.
* Pete will leave them in as long as he can or was the switch in the S. Alabama game planned?
** Edited by `lag at 5/17/2026, 1:30:50 PM
(In response to this post by IB4TECH)
2mo
I think against South Alabama, she showed signs of some discomfort, and that is why she was likely pulled after the 4 innings. Against Akron, I saw no shaking or loosening of the arm...nothing that would indicate soreness, pain, or twinges.
I don't think she has a short leash as long as she is pitching well. If she is getting outs, not walking, not giving up runs, she goes. Same with Mazzarone. Right now, the coaches are going to trust both pitchers until they falter. Pete's mindset is that we have pitched great all year, hit great all year, and fielded all year. So, they will (have to) trust those two until they have to be pulled. I have a feeling the first game could be a "all hands on deck" situation depending on how it goes. It would be nice if either Mazzarone or Carrico get on a roll like they did against UVA and Duke.
(In response to this post by IB4TECH)
2mo
Just happened that they strung them together plus the bad hop (debatable whether that was an error) on Lynch
They weren’t slamming balls to the track
Hardest hit was the one off Bree that Blackwell caught but lost when ground k kicked it free
** Edited by hokiepro at 5/17/2026, 12:17:50 PM
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)