Virginia Tech Softball Finds Different Ways to Win the Virginia Series

After taking 2-of-3 from the Clemson Tigers, the #12 Virginia Tech Hokies traveled to nearby Radford for a mid-week prelude before taking on the #21 Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville.  Note: See the transcripts of media interviews with head coach Pete D'Amour and catcher Zoey Yaeger after game 3 near the end of the article.

MID-WEEK GAME:  VIRGINIA TECH  7,   RADFORD  2

The Hokies defeated Radford, 7-2, behind a combined pitching effort from freshman Avery Layton (7-1) and Sophie Kleiman. They were supported by a power barrage of home runs by  Addison Foster, Kylie Aldridge, and Michelle Chatfield and doubles by Nora Abromavage and Chatfield.  Here are those highlights courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics.

THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH

Virginia Tech and Virginia, both ranked and both having very good seasons, tangled in a hard-fought Commonwealth Clash. The pitching staffs from both teams largely controlled the action. Just as it had in the Clemson series, Virginia Tech lost the first game, but then the pitching, offense, and defense responded to win the series.

GAME ONE: VIRGINIA TECH   3,  UVA  4

The first game between in-state rivals was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning. Virginia Tech’s Emma Mazzarone and Virginia’s Eden Bigham shut down both offenses, with neither allowing a hit through the first two innings.

After threatening in the third, the Hokies broke through against Bigham in the top of the fourth inning. Left fielder Nora Abromavage drew a one-out walk and then moved to second on a passed ball by Virginia’s catcher Reagan Hickey.  Tech designated player Kylie Aldridge then capped a duel against Bigham with a two-out double to the center field wall to score Abromavage for the 1-0 Hokie lead.

Virginia struck back in the bottom of the fourth. Emma Mazzarone hit the lead off batter Macee Eaton on the foot to put her on first base. After a fielder’s choice by Tech’s shortstop Annika Rohs got the lead runner at second, Virginia’s catcher Reagan Hickey hit a pitch that bounced off first baseman Michelle Chatfield’s glove to reach safely and put two runners on. Alex Call then sent a 1-2 pitch by Mazzarone over the left field fence for the 3-run home run to give the Cavaliers the 3-1 lead.

Virginia tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-1.

The resilient Hokies fought back late in the game as the Cavaliers had trouble finding the strike zone and getting outs. In the top of the sixth inning, Abromavage drew a lead off walk. Chatfield hit a routine grounder to shortstop who went to second for the potential double-play. The second baseman dropped the ball as Abromavage slid into second safely to put two runners on with no outs.

Two batters later, second baseman Rachel Castine loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk. Freshman sensation Gaby Mizelle then hit a swinging bunt single that no Cavalier fielder got to before Abromavage scored to close the gap to 4-2.

With two outs and the bases still loaded, Foster drew the third walk in the inning to bring in another run and make it 4-3.  The Hokies could not push another run across, resulting in the final 4-3 loss to start the series.

Emma Mazzarone took the loss to go 9-3 on the season. She pitched six innings, giving up four hits, two walks, and four runs while striking out seven.

GAME TWO:  VIRGINIA TECH  5,  UVA  2

After losing the first game against another tough ACC opponent, the Hokies had to respond if they were going to have a chance to win the series and continue its quest to host a NCAA regional.

Respond they did. Immediately.

Dynamic center fielder Addison Foster led off the game with a single to left field against UVa starter Courtney Lane, stole second, and then moved to third on a dropped pitch by Cavalier catcher Reagan Hickey.  Hickey tried to throw out Foster, but the throw sailed over the third base, allowing Foster to come home for the early 1-0 lead.

The Hokies threatened to make it a big inning. First baseman Michelle Chatfield touched a line drive off the third baseman Hannah Tober’s glove into left field. Two batters later, catcher Zoey Yaeger dropped a perfectly placed hit behind first base into shallow right field that put runners on the corners with two outs.  Designated player Kylie Aldridge drew a walk to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers escaped further damage by getting second baseman Rachel Castine on a long flyout to right field.

The tone was set, though, for the same Hokie offense that was stymied in the first game.  Foster once again ignited the offense in the second inning when she stroked a single down the right field line with two outs. 

Third baseman Jordan Lynch followed with hard drive that fell in left-center field. Foster flashed her speed, sliding safely into third. Lynch took second on the throw to third.  Chatfield then drilled the first pitch she saw into left field, bringing home Foster and Lynch ahead of the throw home to make it 3-0.

Bree Carrico got the start for Virginia Tech and ran into trouble in the bottom of the second inning. After Carrico allowed a single and a walk to put runners at first and second with one out, Virginia right fielder Madison Greene drove a ball just out of the reach of Abromavage in left right for an RBI double. 

With runners at second and third and one out, Carrico got the next batter to pop out to second base for the second out. However, UVA’s Hylton drew a full-count walk on some tight calls to load the bases. Carrico was able to extinguish the fire when Chatfield snagged a drive out of the air for the third out.

Up 3-1, the Hokies would score two more in the third. Yaeger led off the inning with a four pitch walk followed by a double by Aldridge into the right-center field gap. Castine then drew a full-count walk to load the bases with two outs.

Two batters later, shortstop Annika Rohs drove a one-out pitch into center field that scored Aldridge from third. Foster followed that with a sacrifice fly to right field. Cavalier Madison Greene laid out to make the diving catch, but Castine tagged from third to make it 5-1.

That would be all the runs the Hokies would need as Bree Carrico and the defender behind her made the lead stand up.  

The Cavaliers would add another run in the bottom of the fifth inning off a sacrifice fly. However, that was it. Carrico closed out the game with a 1-2-3 final inning, highlighted by a diving catch from Abromavage in left field that sealed the 5-2 victory.

Carrico would go the distance to improve to 11-0 on the season. She allowed three hits and four walks, and one earned run over seven innings, while striking out five batters.

Notables:

• Virginia Tech won despite going for 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 runners on base.
• Virginia could only manage to get four runners in scoring position all game and went 1-for-4 in those situations.
• Kylie Aldridge hit her 14th double of the season, good for second on the team.
• Addison Foster went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI and stole her 8th base of the year (8-for-8)

GAME THREE:  VIRGINIA TECH  5,  UVA   0

Left-handed ace Emma Mazzarone got the start again for Virginia Tech in the rubber match against the Cavaliers and immediately began dealing! She only allowed one base runner in the first two innings, striking out one, securing an out herself on a comebacker, and inducing several ground outs to Tech shortstop Annika Rohs.

Virginia Tech put a scare into the Cavaliers when it loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning but could not push a run across. Neither team’s offense found a way to put up points in the first two innings.

However, the Hokies broke through in the top of the third inning. Center fielder Addison Foster led off the inning with a full-count walk. Third baseman Jordan Lynch then sent a grounder past short stop into center field to put runners on first and second with no outs. 

Left fielder Nora Abromavage then worked an 11-pitch at bat in which she started 3-0 and, after letting it get to 3-2, fouled off four straight pitches. One foul ball dropped in front of the Virginia Tech dugout when the Cavalier first baseman Macee Eaton was unable to get to it, keeping Nora’s at bat alive. She then stroked a single through the shortstop-third base gap that loaded the bases when Foster was held at third.

Then luck touched the Hokies. Catcher Zoey Yaeger, who described herself as struggling during the month of March, sent the second pitch right back to the Cavalier pitcher Julia Cuozo who went home in an attempt to get the lead runner. However, she rushed her throw, sending it offline into the ground and forcing the catcher to chase the wayward ball. Foster and Lynch both crossed the plate to give the Hokies the 2-0 lead.

That was it for Cuozo. The Cavaliers brought Eden Bigham, who started game one on Friday.  Designated player Kylie Aldridge greeted Bigham with a well-executed bunt to the right side of the infield. She was tagged out, but Ambromavage scored from third to make it 3-0.

Second baseman Rachel Castine continued Tech’s momentum by slicing the ball past the shortstop into left field to bring Yaeger home for a 4-0 lead.

The Hokies struck again in the fourth inning. Foster drew a one-out walk. Two batters later, first baseman Michelle Chatfield sent a hot grounder that bounced off the third baseman that allowed Foster to slide safely into third. Abromavage followed with a walk to lead the bases with two outs.

Yaeger came to the plate with a two out opportunity to add more insurance for the Hokies. She scalded the second pitch toward the short stop, who knocked it down but could not get the ball to third in time to get Chatfield out. Foster scored to give the Hokies the 5-0 margin.

It could have been worse. Aldridge scorched a ball to the right side that the Cavalier second baseman laid out to catch and likely prevented two more runs from scoring.

That was all the scoring the Hokies would generate and all they would need as Virginia Tech’s pitching held UVA scoreless.

UVA had its moments, but Virginia Tech’s pitching and defense prevented any damage. In the bottom of the third inning, shortstop Rohs threw out the leadoff runner from deep in the hole. After Mazzarone struck out the second batter, she made life interesting for herself.

She gave up a walk to UVA’s star shortstop Jade Hylton, and then Jaiden Griffith hit a comebacker to Mazzarone, who normally has a calm, fundamentally straightforward approach to throwing to first. However, she rushed the throw for an error into the dirt that put runners at first and third with two outs. No worries. Mazzarone struck out Eaton on three straight pitches to get out of trouble. 

Mazzarone faced more adversity in the bottom of the fourth in which she fell behind nearly every batter in the inning. She struck out the first batter swinging on a full-count. Mazzarone then walked the next batter on another full-count with admittedly several close calls not called strikes by the home plate umpire.  Mazzarone then got the third batter on a full-count strike out. It took the first base umpire to call that the batter went around; unfortunately, that distraction allowed the runner at first to steal second.

After yet another 3-2 pitch walk, Mazzarone got a mound visit from Tech’s pitching coach. She then proceeded to strike out the next batter on five pitches to slip out of trouble again.

Virginia Tech had Bree Carrico warming in the bullpen, but Mazzarone took command in the fifth inning as well. To that point, she had only given up one hit and three walks total. Not a single ball had escaped the infield. Anyone who uttered the fact that she had not allowed anything out of infield immediately jinxed Mazzarone (I did) as two batters in a row sent liners past second base with one out to put runners on first and second.

As she had all game, Mazzarone escaped harm. She induced the next batter to pop up in front of the home plate and then struck out the final batter to end the threat.

Bree Carrico took over for Mazzarone to start the bottom of the sixth inning. After UVA’s catcher Reagan Hickey knocked a single through the left side to lead off the frame,  Carrico struck out the next batter.  Virginia Tech’s third baseman Jordan Lynch them made yet another highlight play. She took out UVA’s right fielder Madison Greene with a running “scoop and throw” to first for the second out. With Hickey on second due to the fielder’s choice. Carrico wiped out the threat with another strike out to end the inning.

She closed out the game by once again showing the mental fortitude to get out of trouble in the seventh inning. Pinchhitter Addison Reasor got on via a hot shot to Lynch at third that caught her with a bad bounce. Carrico got the second batter to pop out to shallow right field, but a wild pitch to the third batter allowed Reasor to get second.  After falling behind 2-1, Coach D’Amour visited the mound to have a chat. Carrico still gave up the walk to put two on with one out.

The unflappable Carrico came back to strike out the next two batters swinging, capping the 5-0 shutout with a burst of emotion! 

Emma Mazzarone got the win to go 10-3 on the season. She pitched 5 innings, giving up only three hits and three walks while striking out seven. Carrico allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out three.

Notables:

• This was the first time UVA had been shut out all season.
• The Cavaliers were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

PLAYER PERFORMANCES

The 1–2 Punch on the Mound:

Pitchers Emma Mazzarone and Bree Carrico have evolved into a potent pair of aces that the Hokies are relying upon in the latter part of the season. Aside from the Radford game, either Carrico and Mazzarone have started the last 6 games against Clemson and Virginia. Even with tight losses in the first games of those two series, both pitchers have dominated.

Over the last series against Clemson and UVA, the two pitchers have the following stats:

Mazzarone;   Pitched 15.1 innings over 4 games. She gave up 11 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned runs, 8 walks, 3 home runs, while striking out 18.  She has an ERA of 2.49  and Batting Average Against of .179.

Carrico:  PItched 16.2 innings over 5 gamers. She gave up 8 hrs, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 10 walks, and 2 homeruns, while striking out 14. She has an ERA of 1.32 and Batting Average Against of .158.

The Hokies Can Win In Different Ways:

The UVA series is the first time the Hokies have not hit a home run over a three game stretch since 2022 per Hokiesports.  They still won 2-out-of 3 games against a quality Virginia pitching staff. 

Virginia Tech found different ways to get runs, even if some of it involved luck such as the error by Cuozo on the throw to the plate. 

Addison Foster:

The transfer from Stetson has been just what the Hokies needed for the lead spot.  To be fair, she is not the same type of leadoff hitter Virginia Tech had last year in Cori McMillan. However, Foster has been a dynamic engine that makes the lineup dangerous.

Foster has started every game this season in center field and is batting .424. She is second on the team with 56 hits, third on the team with 13 doubles. She has also hit 6 home runs and is fourth on the team with 37 RBI. Foster is also 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts.  She has played center field flawlessly after playing short stop at Stetson.

She was constantly getting on base in the three game UVA series: she hit .375 (3-for-8) with a triple and walked four times. She drove in two RBI. Foster was also dynamic on the base paths, frequently getting from first to third with ease. In fact, she scored 4 runs of Virginia Tech's 13 runs in the three games (30.7%).

COACHES CORNER - COACH PETE D'AMOUR

Coach D'Amour spoke to the media after the game on Sunday.

How the Team Played: 

"I thought we played well. It was a continuation of playing well yesterday. I spoke to the team: Friday night was a tough loss and are we going to rebound on Saturday, We responded well."

Bree Carrico Pitching Seven Innings Yesterday and Closing the Door Today:

"(Inside Scoop): She was sick today. She wants the ball  You play against UVA, you get the ball and make pitches. She is having a great year all year."

In a Weekend Where it Felt Like Pitchers Had the Upper Hand, the Ball Was Not Going Out of the Park:

"UVA has good pitching. I think it was the first time in a long time we had not hit a home run in a series. We won 2-out-of-3, so we can win in a lot of different ways."

Mazzarone Effectively Stranding Runners on Base:

"Dialed in I guess. We don't think of runners on base. Just keep making pitches and reset. She did well today."

Do They Look at the RPI This Time of the Season:

"No. We looked at it alot last year, and it didn't help. We just have to keep winning."

A Lot of Balls Went to Annika Rohs and Lynch / That Side of the Infield:

"When Mazz is throwing her drop ball, they are going to put it on the ground. Anni is one of the best defenders in the country, so we were playing good defense."

Rachel Castine Being Effective in the Middle-to-Bottom of the Lineup:

"We don't see it as the bottom. We see it that we have 9 hitters that go up and are having a good year. The first seven get out, we feel good with 8 and 9. We are 9 deep. Really, we are more than that with the hitters we have on our bench."

Zoey Yaeger With the Fielder's Choices.. Scored a Run. Drove in a Couple of Runs. What Makes Her Effective?

"Good approach. She has had one since Day 1. Doesn't get too high or too low. Has good at-bats and makes things happen."

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - ZOEY YAEGER

Catcher Zoey Yaeger answered questions from reporters after the final game. Here is a spotlight on her responses.

How the Team Played This Weekend:

"I think we played well all weekend. Today, we finally got some hits when we had runners in scoring position. I mean yesterday we had 10 hits, so it felt like we won 15 to whatever it was. Mazz was great. Shut out win. Bree coming in and shutting the door. That is what we are used to now."

Mazz as a Hard Thrower:

Yaeger had tape on her glove hand. She explained that "Mazz throws so hard, I have to do three layers on my hand because I used a first base's glove. There isn't much padding."

Before The UVA Series, It Has Felt Like Yaeger Does Not Swing at the First PItch Much At All. Is this a Thing?

"Most of the time it is not on purpose. Sometimes, that is our plan going in. It just kind of depends on the pitcher. Sometimes, the first pitch allows you to guess what the second pitch will be. Sometimes, I would rather swing at the first pitch strike, but, other times, it is part of the plan."

Differences in the UVA's (Pitcher's) Arms Over the Series? Did Anything Change Over the Series?

"Friday, Eden, Cuozo pitched great. I mean, we had a lot of runners on base. I don't think we were necessarily bad. I think both of those pitchers pitched well today. We just finally got hits when it mattered."

"I think our swings were the same. I think our approach might have been a little different, like off the plate a little bit. She was jamming us inside toward the end of the game on Friday. We just got hits when it mattered. They made great plays too. We could have had a couple of more runs if it were not for that diving play."

About the Play When She Grounded to the PItcher (The Pitcher Threw it Away for an Error at Home Plate That Scored Runs):

"The throw home. I was actually sitting on a changeup. Of course, she throws me two hard inside pitches. First one, I didn't mean to swing. Swung (with a reference to the previous question!). Second one was like 'got to swing because I don't want to be 0-2'. Luckily, she threw it away."

"Softball and baseball are games of luck. Sometimes, inches."

About the Fielder's Choice Play On the Hard Hit to Third:

"I watched the first pitch. Should not have done that (reference to not swinging at first pitches). Second pitch, luckily, she threw about the same pitch, and I was just ready for an inside rise, so I just tomahawked it, and luckily, slide in safe to third."

About Her March Struggles at the Plate and Staying Even Keel:

"I was due an RBI. It has been a rough month, but I am glad that I could contribute finally, having my teammate's back because they had my back for the whole month of March and April, it seems."

"The last month I have been in my head. I was not hitting like I was in February. Sometimes, you just have to look at the lineup and know 'I don't have to go 3-for-3 today because I have All-Americans in the lineup."

Differences in Catching Mazzarone vs. Carrico:

It is definitely different. I have caught Mazz since freshman year, but it took me a full year to be able to get used to how her ball moves. I had never caught anyone with a drop 73 miles per hour, sometimes, she gets 75. Then Bree, you have to be ready for a rise and a slow drop. Just kind of practicing all fall, catching bullpens, you just got to get used to it. You got to know. Sometimes, Mazz will just change the side of the plate from what the pitch is called because I know what she wants to throw. It is just getting to know their minds."

Mazz Since the Duke Series:

"It was only that first inning at Duke. Sometimes, you just need to hear that someone believes in you and that is what she needed to hear."

Bree Getting Pumped Up Getting the FInal Out and Attacking With Emotion:

"Bree has earned it. She didn't pitch a single inning last year and she just got 100 strikeouts. In three months, she worked so hard for it and she has earned it. She is a great teammate."

RANKINGS

Virginia Tech is now 36-6 on the season and 11-4 in the ACC Conference record.  The Hokies remain in third place in the ACC standings, one game in the loss column behind Duke and Florida State. 

With the series win against the Virgiia Cavaliers, the Hokies moved up to 10th in the national rankings.

• D1 Softball - 10th - previous ranking 12th
• Softball America - 10th - previous ranking was 11th
• ESPN.com/USA - 10th - unchanged from previous 12th
• NFCA /GOROUT - Remains at 11th

• RPI:  19th
• KPI:  11th
• DSR: 10th

NEXT UP

Virginia Tech travels to Lynchburg today to take on Liberty University. The Flames are 20-21, with a 13-5 conference record.  They are 2-13 against Power 4 competition, with a 3-2 win over Maryland and splitting a 2-game series against Syracuse.  The game starts at 6:00 and will be streamed on ESPN+

ACC foe Georgia Tech come to town this weekend for a 3-game set.  Georgia Tech sits 9th in the ACC standings with an 8-10 conference record and a 25-22 overall record.

Game 1 - Friday, April 17 - 6:00 pm - streamed on ACCN

Game 2 - Saturday, April 18 - 7:00 pm - streamed on ACCN

Game 3 - Sunday, April 19 - 12:00 pm - streamed on ACCNx

Georgia Tech’s national ratings:

• RPI:  49
• KPI:  53
• DSR: 49

After Georgia Tech, the Hokies will face North Carolina and Syracuse to close out their ACC schedule. UVA was likely the toughest opponent in the back end of the schedule, so there are fewer opportunities for the Hokies to improve their strength of schedule. In order to strengthen its bid to host an NCAA regional, Virginia Tech must take care of business as it closes out the regular season.