No. 17 Hokies Hang on For W at UVA
No. 17 Virginia Tech managed to pull off a stressful win Thursday against school rival UVA, taking the first game of the Commonwealth Clash 9-8.
Virginia Tech held a solid lead through the majority of the game, getting started early with a three-run homer from Bre Peck in the first inning. The Cavaliers immediately answered with a home run of their own from Jade Hylton.
In the second inning, Cameron Fagan slapped a single for an RBI to go up 4-1. Kelsey Bennett followed up with a solo homer later on in the fifth inning to take a four-run lead.
The game seemed to be just about over until the Cavaliers made a huge comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning. An error at second base by Cameron Fagan let one run in before Tori Gilbert sent a three-run bomb to left field to tie the game at five.
Tech failed to convert with a few runners on base in the seventh, but took the game to extra innings with a pair of strikeouts from ace Emma Lemley. The Hokies then dropped a monstrous five-hit inning, scoring four runs to take control of the ballgame in extras. A set of walks, a double from Peck, a single from Jayme Bailey, and a sac fly from Bennett brought the score up to 9-5, quite a daunting scoreboard to look at for UVA with just a half inning to make a comeback.
The Cavaliers certainly gave their fans a great show to close out the game as Shelby Barbee sent one way over the left field fence for three runs with two outs. Their rally would continue as Hylton knocked a single through the 3-4 gap and proceeded to steal second during the subsequent at bat.
The game on the line, Katie Goldberg stepped into the box for UVA, Hylton, the tying run in scoring position at second base. A 2-2 count, Goldberg made contact and sent a shot to Fagan at second, but couldn’t beat out the throw, ending the game 9-8.
Virginia Tech and UVA will continue the Commonwealth Clash series Friday at 5 p.m. looking for its third consecutive win against the Cavaliers. They’ll close out the series Saturday at noon, before heading home to face No. 5 Tennessee on Tuesday.
