BLACKSBURG – After upsetting No. 7/6 James Madison in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader, the Virginia Tech softball team (20-17, 9-3) resumes ACC play this weekend, taking on Louisville (24-8, 9-3) on Saturday and Sunday at Ulmer Stadium. The Hokies have won 14 of their last 16 games, including two conference sweeps over Pitt and Boston College.
Due to inclement weather, the Hokies and Cardinals will play a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.
Down go the Dukes: The Hokies upset No. 7/6 James Madison in game one on Wednesday, handing the Dukes their third loss of the season. The 2016 Hokies put their name in the record books with the 2-1 win. Before the upset, the highest ranked opponent defeated at Tech Softball Park was No. 11 Houston in 2008. In addition, the victory over No. 6 is the highest-ranking win since the Hokies defeated Michigan in the 2008 Super Regional in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Maggie Tyler matched her single-season high, tossing her 15th win in the circle. Lauren Duff extended her hitting streak to 18 games in the doubleheader.
Last week: Tech powered through three non-conference opponents last week, going 5-1 in the trio of doubleheaders. Senior pitcher Maggie Tyler tossed three of Tech’s wins with 19 strikeouts and a 0.48 ERA to earn the ACC’s Pitcher of the Week honor for the second consecutive week. Freshman Lauren Duff extended her hitting streak to 16 games to tie the second longest streak in program history. Chelsea Whitcomb launched three home runs in the final three games of the weekend, driving in six runners.
Two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week: Maggie Tyler was named the ACC's Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week, as announced on Monday. Tyler gave up a single run through 18.2 innings in the circle, posting a 0.48 ERA. The senior struck out 19 batters, without issuing a walk against 70 batters faced. Tyler threw two complete games, collecting a shutout on three wins. Last week, Tyler threw a pair of complete-game, one-hit shutouts on Friday night and Saturday morning to earn her first honor of the season. Tyler threw 12 and nine strikeouts on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with a single hit in each. The senior threw a no-hitter the week before on March 18 vs. Boston College.
Duff's Dominance: Freshman Lauren Duff extended her hitting streak to 18 games, the second-longest streak in program history. She led the team with 10 hits last weekend, including four doubles and a triple. Duff posted a .941 slugging percentage through last week’s games with a .632 on base percentage. She collected 22 putouts with seven assists, including one runner caught stealing second. The freshman now leads the team with a .414 average, slugging .629.
Versus the Cardinals: Tech leads the all-time series against Louisville, 5-1. The Hokies swept the Cardinals in 2015 in Blacksburg but haven't met since 2008 in the NCAA Regional. This weekend's series will be the first for the two teams in Louisville.
Up Next: The Hokies travel to Longwood for a midweek doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. in Farmville, Virginia.
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