The Virginia Tech Hokies softball team will play for the ACC Championship. On Friday, the No. 3-seeded Hokies defeated second-seeded Duke 5-0 to advance to the championship game. It was a dominant pitching performance from Bree Carrico and Emma Mazzarone, one night after Mazzarone’s masterful performance in a 3-1 win over Virginia, where she struck out 14 batters.
Carrico got the start for the Hokies, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing only three hits and two walks, while striking out four, before Mazzarone
replaced her in the sixth. In 1.2 innings, Mazzarone picked up where she left off on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out three Blue Devils to earn the save.
Offensively, it was all about the longball for Tech, as the Hokies mashed four home runs.
Michelle Chatfield got things going for Virginia Tech in the first with a solo shot to make it a 1-0 game. In the second inning, Nora Abromavage delivered another solo homer to make it 2-0. After a few scoreless innings from both teams, it was Rachel Castine’s turn to go deep, belting yet another solo shot in the top of the sixth.
Duke would threaten in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases, but here comes Mazzarone to shut the door. To ensure things weren’t close in the seventh, the Hokies added two more runs in the top half of the inning. After a Jordan Lynch double to begin the inning, it was Kylie Aldridge’s turn to go yard, blasting a two-run shot to make it 5-0.
Quite an impressive two days for the Hokies, especially for the pitching staff. Mazzarone should be the tournament’s MVP, regardless of what happens on Saturday.
Speaking of Saturday, the Hokies will face top-seeded Florida State for the ACC Championship. This will be Virginia Tech’s first time in the ACC Championship game since 2012.
