Hokies drop tough walk-off loss to UVA, 8-7

Gonzalez goes 3-for-5, Whitcomb scores twice and drives in three

March 4, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Despite collecting its most hits in a game in three years and plating eight runs, the Virginia Tech softball team could not contain a tough Virginia squad as the Hokies fell to the Cavaliers in walk-off fashion, 8-7, in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Vanessa Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with two RBI and redshirt sophomore Chelsea Whitcomb went 2-for-3 with a HR and two runs scored for Tech (9-6, 1-1 ACC). Sophomore Olivia Lattin, sophomore Emma Strouth and junior Jessie Mehr each tallied two hits for the Hokies.

Tech’s 18 hits on Saturday were its most in a single game since tallying 16 hits against Morgan State on March 20, 2014.

The Hokies got to work offensively right away in the top first as senior Aysha Richardson dropped a ball into shallow left for a base hit with one out. Richardson stole second and moved to the third on a fly out that set the stage for Strouth’s RBI single that gave Tech a 1-0 lead.

After starter Carrie Eberle retired the side in order in the home half of the first, sophomore Lauren Duff ripped a lead off single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Breanna Davenport gave Tech runners on the corners on an infield single before stealing second. Whitcomb brought all three of the home with one swing of the bat for her third home run of the season to give the Hokies a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Whitcomb was hit by a pitch to give the Hokies a lead off base runner. After a double from Gonzalez and a pinch hit bunt single for Caroline Schoenewald, Lattin stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored the go-ahead run.

Freshman Taylor Barnes came on for Eberle in the bottom of the fourth with a 5-4 lead and retired the side in order after allowing a lead off single. Gonzalez’s second double of the game came in the top half of the fifth and it drove in two runs to extend the Tech lead to 7-4.

Two UVA home runs in the bottom of the fifth, one solo and the other a two-run blast, tied the score again at 7-7 but the Hokies responded with the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Mehr that put Tech back out in front, 8-7.

It wouldn’t be enough though as the ‘Hoos came back to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the walk-off win.

The rubber game of the three-game series between Tech and UVA will take place at noon tomorrow.

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