Virginia Tech Softball Plays Home Run Derby to Take Series Against Clemson

11th/12th ranked Virginia Tech last faced Clemson in the 2025 ACC tournament when a torrential downpour late in the game led to a 10-9 Tech loss that likely prevented the Hokies from hosting a NCAA regional.

After rolling through NC State and Boston College, including winning five of those six games by run-rules, the Hokies faced a tougher challenge against the visiting Clemson Tigers. While Clemson’s offense is not as prolific as Virginia Tech’s, the Tigers’ pitching was going to present issues for the Hokies. 

Clemson’s ace Sierra Manesse largely shut down the Hokies in a game win win for Clemson. However, Virginia Tech showed its resilience in coming back to take the final two games and win the series.

GAME 1:   VIRGINIA TECH 2,  CLEMSON  4

Virginia Tech left-handed ace Emma Mazzarone got the start in the first game of the series on Thursday and looked good to start the game. She induced a fly out to center field, a ground out that she handled, and then struck out Clemson’s best hitter Mac Pavese swinging.

She ran into trouble in the top of the second inning. After getting the first two outs via a groundoust to third baseman Jordan Lynch and back to Mazzarone, an innocent miscue gave the Tigers life. Mazzarone got Clemson second baseman Marian Collins to hit a weak grounder along the first base line. The normally sure-handed Mazzarone could not corral the ball in time to get the out at first, and the Tigers had its first runner on. She walked the next batter on a full-count to put runners at first and second,  Then, after falling behind freshman third baseman Sarah Breaux for 2-0 count, Mazzarone gave up a three-run home run over the left field fence for a Clemson 3-0 lead.

Virginia Tech had threatened earlier in the bottom of the first with two on and one out could not push over a run. The Hokies immediately responded to the Clemson scores with runs of their own in the bottom of the second. 

Designated player Kylie Aldridge hit a bouncing single up the middle. Right fielder Gaby Mizelle followed with a slicing line drive to center-right field that allowed Aldridge to advance to third. 

With runners on the corners, shortstop Annika Rohs hit into a fielder’s choice at second that scored Aldridge from third to close the gap to 3-1. After center fielder Addison Foster walked on a 3-1 count, third baseman Lynch laced the first pitch she saw into right field that brought home Rohs from second and brought the Hokies back within 3-2.

Unfortunately, that would be all the offensive scoring the Hokies would muster as Clemson pitcher Sierra Maness induced ground out after groundout.  Virginia Tech would put two runners on at second and third with one out in the fourth but could not bring them home. Tech mustered a single in the single in the sixth inning. Finally, Lynch doubled in the seventh with one out and reached third, but neither left fielder Nora Ambrovage or first baseman Michelle Chatfield could bring her home. This was a recurring theme throughout the game as Virginia Tech was 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position (RISP).

Mazzarone and Virgina Tech's defense would hold Clemson at bay with dazzling plays for most of the rest of the game. 

Mazzarone, however, would allow a fourth run in the top of the fourth inning after walking two Clemson batters, both on full-counts, with two outs. A single brought a runner home to provide the final 4-2 margin. Mazzarone gave up four hits and struck out five while going the distance, taking her second loss to go 8-2 on the season. 

While her four walks contributed to Clemson’s four runs, the normally prolific Hokie offense could not support Mazzarone in the loss.

GAME 2:  VIRGINIA TECH 9,  CLEMSON  1  (5 INNINGS)

As they have all year, the Hokies responded to adversity with a bounce back win in the second game of the series Friday night.

Bree Carrico got her fourth start of the season and immediately went to work in the top of the first. She pitched a 1-2-3 inning, getting a flyout to center field and a ground out to her. Carrico also struck out Clemson’s Kiley Channell looking, notable in that Channell had the status of being the hardest batter to strikeout in the ACC.

With Carrico in command, the Hokie offense woke up from its first game slumber. Center fielder Addison Foster led off the game with a walk. Third baseman Jordan Lynch then hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Foster at second. Two batters later, catcher Zoey Yaeger singled through the right side to move Lynch over to third. 

Virginia Tech took the early lead when the Hokies executed a first-and-third steal play. Yaeger ran partway to second base to force a throw and run down by the first baseman.. She froze before being tagged to give time for Lynch to steal home and stake Tech to a 1-0 lead. 

Carrico ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the second, issuing two walks with two outs before striking out Clemson’s Sarah Breaux, the home run hitting hero from game one.

The Hokie bats continued to pressure Clemson pitching in the second inning. Designated player Kylie Aldridge bounced a hard hit chopper up the middle that the second baseman grabbed but could not throw out the hustling Aldridge.  Second baseman Rachel Castine drew a four-pitch walk to put two runners on the bases.

With Lily Pallante pinchrunning for Aldridge, shortstop Annika Rohs drove a liner that Clemson shortstop Channell dove in the air to knock down; however, the ball dribbled away into the shallow outfield to allow the speedy Pallante to score from second. The Hokies were up 2-0 after two innings.

Virginia Tech added to its lead in the bottom of the third. After left fielder Nora Abromavage walked on four straight balls, catcher Zoey Yaeger sent an 0-2 pitch that glanced off the pitcher’s glove into the no-man’s land between the mound and second, putting two runners on.

First baseman Michelle Chatfield then sent a towering bomb over the left field fence for a three-run home run that brought Abromavage and Yaeger home and staked the Hokies to a 5-0 lead.

Both offenses struck in the fifth inning. Clemson’s outfielder Taylor Pipkins took Carrico yard for a solo home run to left field that narrowed the Virginia Tech lead to four. However, Aldridge would reclaim the margin with a home run of her own in the bottom of the frame. She worked a 3-1 count and then drew a low and away pitch that she thought was a ball. As she made her move to go to first base, the umpire called strike forcing Aldridge back to the plate to face a 3-2 pitch. Instead of getting the walk, she drilled that next pitch over the right field fence into the parking lot for her fourth home run of the year. 

Clemson switched out pitchers twice, using freshmen Lexi Haines and Maddie Johnson, but neither could stop Tech’s momentum. Right fielder Gaby Mizelle walked on five pitches and moved to second on a passed ball. Second baseman Rachel Castine drew a walk herself, this time on four pitches. Then Rohs took first on five pitches. The bases loaded with Clemson pitchers only throwing two strikes in fourteen pitches. 

Center fielder Addison Foster raked a double to the center-right gap that scored Mizelle and pinchrunner Lyla Blackwell and put Clemson dangerously close to being run-ruled down 8-1.

The walks continued as Lynch drew another five pitch walk to load the bases again. Abromavage then closed out the game, drawing four straight balls that were not close that brought home Rohs for an RBI and the final run-rule 9-1 victory.

Bree Carrico pitched a complete game, the second of her career, for the win. She improved her record to 10-0, pitching five innings and giving up three hits, four walks, and just the one run, while striking out four.

Notables:

• Hokie batters improved from the first game by going 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position (RISP).
• Virginia Tech hit three doubles and two home runs.
• Kylie Aldridge hit her fourth home run of the year.
• Michelle Chatfield hit her seventh home run of the season.
• Jordan Lynch has reached base in 32 straight games (note courtesy of Hokie Athletics)
• Bree Carrico pitched a complete game, the second of her career.
• Virginia Tech won its 15th run-rule game of the season.

GAME THREE:  VIRGINIA TECH  10,  CLEMSON   5

Looking to win the series against Clemson, Virginia Tech started Emma Mazzarone again in game three. Clemson threatened in the first inning by drawing a walk and then singling off the glove of Mazzarone to put runners at first and second with one out. However, Mazzarone settled in, striking out two batters looking and inducing a ground out to first base to get out of the inning.

Virginia Tech batters had to again face Sierra Maness, who largely shut them down in game one. However, just as it did in game two, Virginia Tech struck for runs in the bottom of the first. Center fielder Addison Foster led off the inning with a double over the left fielder, third baseman Jordan Lynch was hit by a pitch, and then left fielder Nora Abromavage drew a walk on four straight pitches.

First baseman Michelle Chatfield greeted the first pitch she saw from Maness with a grounder up the middle to center field that plated Foster and Lynch to give the Hokies the quick 2-0 lead.  Abromavage advanced to third and Chatfield to second on the throw home.

Designated player Kylie Aldridge followed with a sacrifice fly that drove the center fielder back and allowed Abromavage to tag home for the third run of the inning.

Clemson came back in the top of the next inning. The lead off batter reached on an error by second baseman Rachel Castine when a grounder bounced awkwardly. After striking out the next batter swinging, Mazzarone gave up a two-run home run to freshman Sarah Breaux to bring Clemson back to within 3-2.

The Hokies continued to respond. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Foster singled up the middle to put a runner on for Lynch.  Lynch then launched the first pitch she saw for an opposite field home run to left field.  Her twelfth home run of the season extended the Hokie lead to 5-2.

Meanwhile, Mazzarone cruised through the next two innings, retiring six straight batters via strike and several ground outs by her defense.

In the bottom of fourth inning, Virginia Tech struck again, Shortstop Annika Rohs, who has been swinging a hot bat lately, drilled the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her first home run of the season and a 6-2 Hokie lead.

Mazzarone ran into trouble in the top of the fifth inning. She gave up a lead-off home run and then allowed two baserunners to reach second and third with one out. Coach D’Amour decided to bring in Bree Carrico in relief to half the damage. After giving up a fielder’s choice to second that allowed another run to score, Carrico delivered a swinging strike out to get out of the inning with Virginia Tech still holding a 6-4 advantage.

Virginia Tech put the brakes on a potential Clemson comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Abromoavage led off the inning with a huge home run to right-center field that snuck over the wall and chased Maness. 

After Chatfield walked, Aldridge hammered a full-count home run over the center field wall to score two more runs and give Virginia Tech a 9-4 lead.

The Hokies were not done. Mizelle walked and stole second. Castine also walked. Rohs then singled off the glove of the first baseman to load the bases. With the table set for her, Foster continued her stellar play with a check-swing bloop to left field that scored Mizelle and made it 10-4.

Carrico gave up a home run in the sixth inning that pulled Clemson within 10-5, but she then got five of the next six batters out to shut the door on the Tigers.  Carrico pitched 2.2 innings, giving up two hits, one walk, and one run, while striking out one for what should be her fourth save of the year.  Mazzarone pitched 4.1 innings pitched for her ninth win of the year, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and three walks, while striking out four batters.

Notables:

• Nora Abromavage and Jordan Lynch both her their team-leading 12th home runs of the season.
• Annika Rohs hit her first home run of the year.
• Kylie Aldridge knocked in her fifth home run of the year.
• Emma Mazzarone won her ninth game to go 9-2 on the season.

TEAM STATS AND PLAYER PERFORMANCES

• Virginia Tech's Offense is ranked in the top 10 in Division I softball in several statistical categories (Note: Rankings could be off as rankings were as of Friday, April 3):
  • 1st with 82 Doubles
  • 3rd with 400 Hits
  • 5th with a .376 BA
  • 6th with 305 RBI
  • 6th with a Slug Percentage of .670
  • 7th with 70 Home Runs
  • 8th with 317 Runs
  • 10th with 8.34 Runs/Game
  • 11th with a .457 On Base Percentage
• Jordan Lynch is tied for 6th in Division 1 with 15 doubles.
• Every Virginia Tech starting offensive player, including Emma Mazzarone, is hitting over .300
• Virginia Tech pitchers are 8th in Hits Allowed Per 7 Innings at 5.15 (UVA is 9th with 5.29).
• Bree Carrico is 10th in the country with an 1.39 ERA.

KYLIE ALDRIDGE:

Per the ACCN broadcast, Coach Pete D'Amour has described senior Kylie Aldridge as continually working to get better, something you don't always see from seniors.  Listen to her post-series interview on the All-ACC program.

RANKINGS:   

The 11th/12th ranked Virginia Tech Hokies are now 33-5 on the season, with a 9-3 ACC Conference record.  With the series win against Clemson, the Hokies have moved into third place in the ACC standings. It is one game behind Duke in the loss column..

• NFCA /GOROUT - 11th - previous ranking 11th
• D1 Softball - 12th - previous ranking 11th
• Softball America - 11th - previous ranking was 13th
• ESPN.com/USA - 12th - unchanged from previous 12th

• RPI:  17th
• SOS (Strength of Schedule): 78
• KPI:  14th
• DSR: 12th
• Massey Rankings : 11th

ON DECK: RADFORD AND UVA

Tuesday, April 7 - Radford - The Virginia Tech softball team will play a mid-week game at Radford University this coming Tuesday, April 7. The game against the Highlanders will be at 5:00 pm and will be streamed on ESPN+

Commonwealth Clash - UVA

The Hokies will then travel to Charlottesville to take on their in-state rivals UVA in the Commonwealth Clash:

Game 1 - Friday, April 10 - 6:00 pm - streamed on ACCNx

Game 2 - Saturday, April 11 - 2:00 pm - streamed on ACCNx

Game 3 - Sunday, April 12 - 4:00 pm - streamed on ACCN

UVA is 5th in the ACC standings with a 9-5 conference and 31-6 overall record.

• RPI:  26
• SOS: 84
• KPI: 25
• DSR: 21
• Massey Rankings : 22nd

Whereas the pitching staffs of the two teams are relatively evenly matched, Virginia Tech has more dangerous offense:

• Batting Average:. 324 (8th in the ACC)
• Hits:  317 is 8th, compared to Virginia Tech's 400
• Doubles:  9th in the ACC at 56 compared to Virginia Tech's 82
• Home Runs:  5th in the ACC with 49 compared to Virginia Tech's 70.
• Walks: UVA leads Virginia Tech in this category with 169 to 158.

Key Players:

First Baseman Macee Eaton and third baseman Bella Cabral bat third and foirth in the lineup and lead the offense with 10 home runs a piece, 14 and 10 doubles respectively, and batting averages over .400.

UVA splits game starts predominantly between three-four pitchers: Taylor Smith, Julia Cuozzo, and Eden Bigham. Courtney Lane is a key pitcher and is used frequently as she leads the team with 78.2 innings pitched and ten wins. She got the first start in the Duke series, taking the loss in giving up five hits and two runs on a home run in four innings.

Recent Schedule:

UVA just came off a tough series against Duke, losing all three games by less than three runs a game. 

The Cavaliers have taken series from North Carolina (2-1), Syracuse (2-0) Georgia Tech (2-1), and Pitt (3-0).

Other Notable Games: UVA Split with #9 Arkansas (L, 1-17 and W, 4-2 in the beginning of the season.