No. 17 Virginia Tech Wins Commonwealth Clash
No. 17 Virginia Tech defeated rival UVA 7-0 on Saturday to win this year's Commonwealth Clash.
The series was tied 1-1 going into Saturday’s game in Charlottesville, with VT taking the first game and UVA the second.
Ace Emma Lemley started in the circle for Virginia Tech, pitching a complete game while allowing just two hits on the day. Lemley’s record improved to 19-3 this season after Saturday’s win, further cementing her as one of the best pitchers in the nation.
The early innings were fairly quiet as both teams struggled to convert with a multitude of players left on base. That all changed in the fourth, however, as Virginia Tech knocked four hits for three runs to take a handy lead in the middle innings. Addy Greene, Maija Louko, and Kelsey Brown all found their way around the bases.
By the fifth inning, the game started to get out of hand for the Cavaliers. Catcher Kyle Aldridge sent one over the fence for a three RBI homer, bumping the Hokies up to 6-0 on the scoreboard. Tech went on to tally one more run in the seventh with another home run, this one from Kelsey Bennett, earning her the title of VT’s all-time career RBI leader at 162.
Virginia struggled at the plate Saturday, unlike Friday’s game, only managing two hits against Lemley. Hokies defense had a few mishaps on defense, but an otherwise solid game prevented Virginia from earning any runs despite putting 14 runners on base, six of which made it into scoring position.
Virginia Tech (30-9) will matchup with No. 5 Tennessee (30-5) on Tuesday at home, before heading over to Notre Dame (23-11-1) for three games over the weekend.
