Tech picks up second run rule win at Pirate Invitational

Richardson goes 7-for-8 on the day with two RBI

February 24, 2017

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Virginia Tech softball team picked up its second run rule victory of the day after an 11-3 win over Coppin State in six innings on Friday evening on the first day of the Pirate Invitational.

Junior Aysha Richardson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and sophomore Emma Strouth, freshman Hannah Jones and freshman Dani Hugney picked up two hits a piece. Freshman Taylor Barnes struck out six in a complete game effort.

After Barnes retired the side in order in the top of the first, senior Vanessa Gonzalez sent a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for her second home run of the day and her third of the season. Richardson followed with a double and then scored on an RBI single up the middle from Strouth that made it 2-0 Hokies.

Barnes retired the side in order again in the second and freshman Jones led off the home half with her collegiate hit, a single to right field. After Jones moved to second on a groundout, Richardson sent her home on a triple to center field that gave the Hokies a 3-0 lead. Richardson later scored on a passed ball that made it 4-0.

Later in the inning, Strouth stroked an RBI triple to the right center field gap and then scored on a throwing error on the cut off throw, extending the Tech lead to 6-0.

In the third, Jones’ first career home run and an RBI single from Richardson made it 9-0 in favor of the Hokies.

The Eagles rallied back with a run in the fourth and two more runs in fifth that cut their deficit to six, 9-3, but a two-run home run from junior Caroline Schoenewald ended the game in the sixth inning.

The Hokies will be back in action tomorrow against Coppin State at 4:15 p.m. and East Carolina at 6:30 p.m. The game against the Pirates will be streamed. The link can be found on the Virginia Tech softball schedule page.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball