Virginia Tech’s outstanding 2026 softball season appeared on the brink of ending on Saturday. After shutting out South Alabama, 6-0, on Friday in the opening game of the Baton Rouge Regional in the NCAA Softball Tournament, the Hokies faced the LSU Tigers first on Saturday.
The Hokies have made their living all season jumping on teams early. It was LSU’s turn on Saturday. The Tigers threatened in the first, but Tech escaped. The Hokies weren’t so lucky in the second inning, as LSU scored three in the second,
as Emma Mazzarone walked four batters. Avery Layton relieved Mazzarone, getting the Hokies out of further damage in the second.
After a scoreless third inning, LSU added another run in the fourth and four more in the sixth to earn an 8-0 run-rule victory over VT. Tech outhit 16-6, which was only the sixth time that’s happened all season. It was also the first time this season that the Hokies had been shut out.
It was a miserable start to the day for the Hokies, who faced elimination on Saturday evening against the Akron Zips. How would the ladies respond?
Not well. Things started nicely for the Hokies, as Mazzarone earned the starting nod and did not allow a run through three innings. It was the Hokies who got on the scoreboard first, when Addison Foster drove in Gaby Mizelle in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
Everything fell apart for Mazzarone in the fourth, as she could only get one out and allowed four runs. She was relieved by Bree Carrico, down 4-1.
The Zips weren’t done either, adding in two more runs off Carrico in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. After a scoreless the fifth, the Hokies faced elimination going into their final at bat in the seventh inning.
Tech’s bats finally woke up after a horrible day so far. After Kylie Aldridge reached base, Michelle Chatfield blasted a two-run home run over the centerfield wall to make it 6-3.
Rachel Castine and Zoe Yaeger would each reach base, with Jordan Bishop entering the game to run for Yaeger. Gaby Mizelle then singled to bring home Castine to make it 6-4.
The Hokies were not finished, as Annika Rohs would then hit a single, scoring Bishop to make it 6-5.
What happened next showed just how amazing this team is. Check it out for yourself.
Foster delivered again, this time doubling into the left-centerfield gap, scoring two Hokies and suddenly Virginia Tech was ahead 7-6.
Avery Layton, who had relieved Carrico ahead of the sixth inning, shut down Akron to earn her ninth win of the season. In two innings pitched, Layton allowed two hits, while striking out five batters.
The Zips were eliminated, and the Hokies survive to play another day.
Next up for the Hokies is a Sunday rematch with LSU. If the Hokies win, they’ll face the Tigers later in the day. Remember, it’s a double-elimination tournament.
Virginia Tech has a tough road on Sunday, needing to defeat LSU twice. But the Hokies were 6-0 against the SEC before Saturday’s loss to LSU, having defeated South Carolina, Georgia and Auburn this season. Just win the first game, and all the pressure is on the home team.
Go Hokies.
