BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday to Georgia Tech in both teams’ ACC openers. The Yellow Jackets cruised to a 13-0, five-inning win before taking a hard-fought, 8-5, 10-inning win in the second game.

After a disastrous first game, the Hokies rebounded and played much better in the second contest despite the defeat. In that game, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hokies put a major dent into the lead. Jessica Everhart singled and moved to second on Kristin Graham’s single. A third single in a row, this one by Beth Walker loaded the bases with just one out in the inning. Marra Hvozdovic drew a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk to plate Everhart and then Kristen Froehlich doubled down the line to right to make it 4-3.

In the fifth inning, Everhart hit a solo home run to left – her fourth of the year – to tie it up. That’s the way it would stand until the ninth when Georgia Tech put a run on the board courtesy a passed ball. In the bottom half of the inning, Erin Ota was hit by a pitch and moved up on a single by Charisse Mariconda. Down to the final out, Graham came through with a clutch single to left to tie the game. But in the 10^th, the Yellow Jackets scored three runs to end the game.

Freshman Abbie Rexrode (L, 2-5) put forth a monster effort in the single, tossing a career-high 9.1 innings. She picked up the loss, but picked up a load of confidence as she pitched out of several jams. Rexrode tossed 159 pitches (176 total combined in both games) and allowed seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits. She did struggle with her control, walking nine, and struck out one.

At the plate, Tech had nine hits, two apiece from Mariconda, Everhart, Graham and Froehlich, and one from Beth Walker.

In the first game, little went right for the Hokies as Georgia Tech pounded out 13 runs and 13 hits in the easy win. Kenzie Roark (L, 6-10) got the start and went a total of 3.1 innings, allowing 10 runs (eight runs) on 10 hits, allowing two walks while striking out four. Graham made her season debut in the circle and went .2 innings. She allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout. Rexrode pitched an inning, allowing a walk.

Tech had just four hits, one apiece from Jenna Rhodes, Ota, Mariconda and Graham.

Tech (8-15, 0-2 ACC) and Georgia Tech (21-9, 2-0 ACC) will finish up the series on Sunday with a single game at 1 o’clcock.