Virginia Tech Softball Continues Hot Start to the Season with Five Wins in Auburn

The No. 11/12 Virginia Tech softball team has started the season playing in tournaments hosted by three SEC teams that made the NCAA regionals last year. The result? Three 2-game sweeps of South Carolina, Georgia, and Auburn.  

This past week, Virginia Tech made their way to Auburn to play five games in the Jane B. Memorial Invitational. Tech played two games versus USC Upstate, two against the host Auburn, and one against Troy.  Despite all three opponents coming into the game with potent offenses, the Hokies swept the field with gritty showings by their pitchers and dominant offensive showings of their own.

GAME ONE:  VIRGINIA TECH 15, USC UPSTATE  4 (5 INNINGS)

The Hokies set the tone on Friday in the first inning when Tech first baseman Michelle Chatfield, who has been having a relatively quiet start to the season in terms of power, led off with a home run to left-center against Spartan pitcher Chloe Poteete to give the Hokies a 1-0 lead.

Poteete did not last long. With catcher Zoey Yaeger and left fielder Nora Abromvagage on base, third baseman Jordan Lynch launched her third home run of the season to right-center against pitcher Anna Dickinson to give the Hokies a 4-0 lead. After center fielder Addison Foster reached base, freshman phenom Gaby Mizele drove a double to right field to score Foster. Just like that, the Hokies established a five run and never looked back.

Tech’s Sophie Kleiman got the start on the mound and ran into trouble in the bottom of the second inning. USC Upstate’s hitters Mackenzie Bernal-Mahagan and Ella Christoper got on with consecutive base hits. Two outs later, left fielder Laila Landrum drove in two runs with a double to left field. Center fielder Taliyah Thomas followed with yet another double up the middle to score Landrum and close the gap to 5-3.

Virginia Tech struck right back in the top of the third. With Foster on base, Mizelle launched a 2-2 home run to left center to extend the lead to 7-3.

The Hokie offense exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning that put the game away. With the base loaded, designated player Kylie Aldridge hit a two RBI double to right field that scored Annika Rohs and Gaby Mizelle. Chatfield advanced to third. Yaeger followed with a single to right field that brought in Chatfield and Aldridge to make it 11-3.

Tech was not finished. Lynch sent her team-leading eighth double of the season into right center to bring home pinch runner Sarah McNelly. With Lynch at third and Layla Backwell on second, Rachel Castine hammered a three run home run that put the game in run-rule territory.

Kleiman pitched well over four innings, only giving up four hits, three runs, and two walks, while striking out four batters. Hokie freshman pitcher Addyson Fisher relieved Kleiman in the bottom of the fifth. She struck out two and gave up a walk. Spartans catcher Laney Jennings reached first on a dropped third strike, and a throwing error allowed USC Upstate to tack on a run to make it 15-4. The Spartans could not muster any other offense, ending the game based on the run-rule.

Notables:

• Tech hit six doubles, including two by Jordan Lynch, all off USC Update pitcher Anna Dickinson.
• The Hokies sent four home runs out of the park.
• Kleiman and Fisher combined for four hits, six strikeouts, three earned runs, and three walks.
• Six different Hokies drove in runs, with Jordan Lynch leading the Hokies with 3 hits and 4 RBI and Rachel Castine and Mizelle both driving in three.

GAME TWO:  VIRGINIA TECH  9, AUBURN  5 

Coming off two big 9-3 wins over Georgia the week before, Tech was undefeated against SEC foes. Would Auburn provide any better resistance to the Hokies?

Auburn starting pitcher Ella Harrison kept the Hokies offense quiet in the first inning, retiring the first three Tech batters via groundouts on six pitches.

Her Tech counterpart freshman Avery Layton got the start for the Hokies but immediately got into trouble. She fell behind the first three batters. Layton gave up a full-court lead off walk, and then Auburn right fielder Makaela Walker drilled a grounder to third that Jordan Lynch knocked down but could not make a play.

With batters at first and second, Layton induced a grounder to Lynch who stepped on third for the force and fired to first base for the double play. She was able to get out of trouble when the next batter sent a ball off her glove straight to Chatfield, who got the put out at first. 

Layton was not so fortunate in the second inning. After Auburn third baseman Haven Roebuck slipped a grounder past short stop, center fielder Ma’Nia Womack sliced a 2-0 pitch to right center to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.  Layton gave up another long hit to the outfield and a two-out walk to put two more runners on.  Virginia Tech then brought in this year’s breakout star Bree Carrico who struck her first batter to get out of the inning.

Virginia Tech’s offense woke up in the fourth inning. Left fielder Nora Abromavage led with a long double to the right center wall.

Two batters later, center fielder Addison Foster sent another double to deep center that fell in over the outfielder. Abromavage had to wait to make sure it was not caught, so she could only advance to third. After she was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice. Rachel Castine singled to bring Foster home from third to cut the lead to 2-1.

Carrico loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with one out after giving up a hit and two walks. Abromavage saved a run, preventing a tag from third on a fly out with a strong throw. 

8 Run Fifth Inning

After their pitcher got out of the jam, the Hokies took the lead in the next inning. First baseman Michelle Chatfield led off with a single up the middle and then moved to second on a wild pitch. 

 The tying run scored on another infielder fielder’s choice throw home that went high. Lynch singled home pincher runner Lily Pallante to take the 3-2 lead. 

The back-and-forth game continued with Auburn putting up three runs in their half of the fifth. Tiger freshman catcher Ava Ratliff hit a three-RBI moonshot over the fence for an Auburn 5-3 lead. However, those would be the last runs that Carrico would give up. 

Tech put the game away in the sixth inning. Gaby Mizelle led off the frame with a double into the left-center gap.

Shortstop Annika Rohs followed that with her own double down the left line to score Mizelle and bring the Hokies back to 5-4. 

Chatfield then smoked a single to center, scoring Rohs and advancing to second on the throw home.

A fielder’s choice by Aldridge moved Chatfield to third with two outs. Zoey Yeager kept the onslaught going. She stroked a single just inside the third base to bring Chatfield home and give Tech the 6-5 lead. 

Nora Abromavage hammered a 3-2 pitch deep into the sky past the left field fence to play two more runs. In the seven inning, Yaeger walked with the bases loaded to produce the final 9-5 score.

Meanwhile, Carrico finished the game, pitching 5 ½ innings to earn her fourth win of the season. She gave up the three runs from the two walks and the Auburn home run in the fifth. Otherwise, she struck nine bitters while getting help from her defense at key moments. 

Notables:

• Nora Abromavage hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season.
• Six different Hokies drove in runs.
• Seven of Tech’s runs came with two outs.

GAME THREE: VIRGINIA TECH  8, TROY  0  (5 INNINGS)

Virginia Tech faced Troy in the first game Saturday. Once again, the Hokies exploded from the start. Michelle Chatfield led off the game with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Kylie Aldridge. Chatfield scored on a wild pitch, and then scored on a wild pitch.

Catcher Zoey Yeager doubled, and then third baseman Jordan Lynch brought her home with a 2-RBI home run to center field. Her fourth home of the season gave Tech a 3-0 lead.

Two innings later, Chatfield hit her second double, advanced to third on another wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kylie Aldridge to center field.

The Hokies added to their total in the third inning. Chatfield hit her second double of the game, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kylie Aldridge sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0. Chatfield was not done. She blasted a two-run home run in the fourth inning scoring Annika Rohs and giving Tech a 6-0 lead. 

Gaby Mizelle knocked in pinchrunner Lyla Blackwell and Yaeger in the fifth inning for a 8-0 lead that put Troy at risk of being run-ruled. 

The pitching duties for Virginia Tech were carried out by a pair of freshmen. Avery Layton started and pitched 4 1/2 scoreless innings. She allowed just one hit, walked four, and struck out five in earning her third win of the season.

Addyson Fisher came on in the fifth to get the final two outs and finish the game.  She gave up a hit but did not give up a run as left fielder Lyla Blackwell gunned down a Troy player at the plate. Layton and Fisher gave up a total of two hits and shut out Try for the first time this season. 

Notables:

• Jordan Lynch hit her fourth home run of the season.
• Both Michelle Chatfield and Zoey Yaeger went 3-for-3.
• Avery Layton won her third game of the season.

GAME FOUR:  VRIGINIA  6, AUBURN  2

The Hokies continued their trend of fast starts in their rematch with Auburn on Saturday. First baseman Michelle Chatfield and designated player Kylie Aldridge hit back-to-back singles, and then a two-out walk by third baseman Jordan Lynch loaded the bases.  Center fielder Addison Foster smacked a single to drive in Chatfield and Aldridge, giving Tech the early 2-0 lead.

Tech left-hander Emma Mazzarone got the start and fell into a first inning jam. She had been called for illegal pitches, resulting in Head Coach Pete D’Amour getting ejected from the game. However, Mazzarone responded by inducing a double play and getting out of the inning with a strikeout. 

The Hokie offense continued the party in the fourth inning when second baseman Rachel Castine hit a two-run homer to left field that also scored right fielder Gaby Mizelle and extended the Tech lead to 4-0.

Two innings later, third baseman Jordan Lynch tripled to drive in pinchrunner Lily Pallante, and center field Addison Foster doubled to plate Lynch. 

Meanwhile, Emma Mazzarone cruised through the first four innings, holding the Tigers hitless until Auburn’s first baseman AnnaLea Adams singled through the right side. Auburn finally got on the board in the fifth inning when right fielder McKaela Walker followed a walk to Kylie Shah with a single to right field. With two runners in scoring position, second baseman Destiny Rodriguez singled to finally score two runs for Auburn. 

Mazzarone shut the door on Auburn, finishing her second complete game and her fourth win of the season. She gave up three hits, two earned runs,  and seven walks, but also struck out seven batters.

Notables:

• Rachel Castine knocked her third home run of the season.
• Addison Foster drove in a season-high three RBI.
• Emma Mazzarone won her fourth game of the year and struck out seven.

GAME FIVE: VIRGINIA TECH 11, USC UPSTATE  3 (5 INNINGS)

Virginia Tech and USC-Upstate closed out the weekend facing off again.  The Spartans showed a spark in the first inning when center fielder Taliyah Thoma led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Her teammate catcher Laney Jennings singled up the middle to score Thomas and give USC-Upstate a 1-0 lead.

The Hokies proceeded to snuff out that spark and strike back. With Michelle Chatfield and Zoey Yaeger on the bases, Nora Abromavage singled home Chatfield. Center fielder Addison Foster followed that with her own single to score Yaeger, and Virginia Tech claimed the 2-1 lead. 

Tech exploded in the second inning. With shortstop Annika Rohs on first, Chatfield continued her stellar weekend with a two run shot over the left field wall, her fourth of the season. The hokies were not done with their power display.  After designated player Kylie Aldridge doubled down the left field line. Zoey Yaeger sent a 2-2 out of the park to give Tech a 6-1 lead.

The runs kept coming. In the third inning. Kylie Aldridge doubled to score Chatfield, and Yaeger singled to bring home pinch runner Jordan Bishop. Leading 8-1 in the fourth, Tech scored two more runs via RBI singles from Gaby Mizelle and Annika Rohs. Finally,  Yaeger singled in the fifth inning, setting up Foster to bring her around with a double to left field to walk off the game.

Tech went with a pitching-by-committee approach. Emma Mazzarone got the start and pitched two innings, giving up three hits and one run and striking out three. Sophie Kleiman followed with one inning of work in which she just gave up a harmless walk and earned her fourth win.  

Finally, Bree Carrico closed out the final two innings. She struck out three but surrendered two runs on a single and home run that gave brief hope to the Spartans.

Notables:

• Michelle Chatfield and Zoey Yaeger both hit their fourth home runs of the season.
• Jordan Lynch hit her second triple of the season.
• MJ Abernathy doubled to center field to record her first hit of the season.

STRONG PERFORMANCES

While Hokies up and down the lineup had great weekends, two players earned recognition after their weekend performances:

Michelle Chatfield had a weekend for the ages. She reached base in every game, hitting .632 with three home runs, four doubles, and six RBI. Her performance raised her season batting average 100 points from .317 to .417 and her slugging percentage from  .439  to .717. Just WOW!

Freshman Gaby Mizelle earned ACC Freshman of the Week for performance over the weekend. She has shown her versatility by playing both second base and right field. Mizelle hit .571 over the weekend, going 8-for-14 with two doubles and a home run. For the season, she is hitting .358 overall for the season with two home runs and sixteen RBI.

Other players are getting noticed by the national softball media outlet Softball America:

• Zoey Yaeger - Softball America lists her as the no. 11 catcher.
• Jordan Lynch: Lynch is their no. 6 third baseman.
• Bree Carrico: Softball America has Carrico at no. 15 in their list of top pitchers. She has a team leading ERA of 1.62 and is tied with Emma Mazzarone for the most strikeouts on the pitching staff with 45.
• Emma Mazzarone: Mazzarone list positioned as the no. 18 pitcher nationally making Virginia Tech one of only four teams with their pitchers in Softball America’s rankings.  She has only given up two home runs in 34 innings pitched.

RANKINGS

The Hokies are now 16-2 and have won 9 straight games.  All four ranking services have Virginia Tech at #11.

WHAT IS NEXT - HOKIE INVITE CLASSIC IN SALEM, VIRGINIA

Virginia Tech will play March 5-8 in the Second Annual Hokie Invite Softball Classic in Salem, Virginia.

The lineup includes:

• Two ACC Schools - Virginia Tech and Boston College
• Two Big 10 Schools -  Michigan and Penn State
• Two Virginia School - Radford and JMU
• American East Conference School - Bryan

Virginia Tech’s Schedule:

• Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 pm against Michigan
• Friday, March 6 at 6:00 against James Madison
• Saturday, March 7 at 3:30 against Penn State
• Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 against Radford
• Sunday, March 8 at 11:00 against Bryant

Virginia Tech begins play tonight against Michigan, the winner of the Big Ten Tournament last year. The game is scheduled for 6:30. The games will be streamed by the subscription service MuscoVision while fans can listen to the games on HokieSports.