The No. 14 Virginia Tech Hokies were finally home in Blacksburg this weekend, hosting the N.C. State Wolfpack on the diamond. On Friday, the Hokies dominated the Wolfpack, earning a 10-0 run-rule victory to improve to 26-4 and 2-2 in ACC play.
The Hokies jumped ahead early when Addison Foster and Zoe Yaeger each doubled to put Tech ahead 1-0. In the bottom of the second inning, Jordan Lynch slammed a bases-loaded double to blow things open, scoring all three and it was 4-0. The runs kept on coming
in the third, as Virginia Tech scored five more and it was 9-0.
Kylie Aldridge’s solo home run in the fourth inning made it 10-0. Lynch drove in a team-high five runs and Adridge drove in three. Four different players had at least two hits for the Hokies. Emma Mazzarone was outstanding, pitching five innings of shutout ball, allowing only two hits and one walk, while striking out eight batters to earn her team-leading seventh win of the season.
On Sunday, the pounded State again, earning an 11-3 run-rule victory, improving to 27-4.
The Wolfpack actually jumped on the Hokies early, scoring three runs in the top of the first. They were threatening for more, so Virginia Tech brought in Bree Carrico to shut things down, and she got out of a bases-loaded jam, striking out two and forcing a groundout.
Tech’s offense went to work in the bottom of the first, as Foster led the game off with a double. After a pair of walks, Nora Abromavage blasted a two-run double, trimming the lead to 3-2. Aldridge would later score on a wild pitch to tie things at 3.
Rachel Castine hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second and earned a bases-loaded walk in the third to give VT a 5-3 lead. The Hokies would open things up in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to make it a 9-3 game. Chatfield drove in Tech’s final run.
Carrico entered the game in the top of the first with no outs and runners on the corners. While one inherited runner scored, she did a masterful job, going the distance, pitching six innings, allowing only one hit, two walks, no runs, and striking out six hitters. Carrico got the win and is 7-0, tying Mazzarone for the team lead.
The win was head coach Pete D’Amour’s 300th at Virginia Tech. He did it in less than eight full seasons. Congratulations, Coach D’Amour.
The Hokies host the Wolfpack again on Sunday to finish up the series. Next up for Tech is a trip to Massachusetts next week to face Boston College.
