Hokies fall to the Irish in Friday doubleheader

Lattin reached base five times in six plate appearances and stole two bases for Tech

March 24, 2017

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (13-14)	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	0
Notre Dame (14-13)	0	0	0	2	0	4	X	6	10	1
Melissa Cook Stadium Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (13-15)	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
Notre Dame (15-13)	1	2	0	5	1	9	13	0
Melissa Cook Stadium - 266 Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Virginia Tech softball team dropped its series opening doubleheader with Notre Dame on Friday as the Irish took game one, 6-1, and game two, 9-1, in five innings.

The Hokies (13-15, 3-8 ACC) scored first in both games but couldn’t hold on to early leads as the Irish (15-13, 3-5 ACC) posted crooked numbers in the sixth inning of game one and the fourth inning of game two to create separation. Notre Dame also held Tech, one of the top home run hitting teams in country heading into the weekend, homerless on the day.

Sophomore Oliva Lattin reached base five times in six at bats, stole two bases and scored a run over the two games while classmate Emma Strouth went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the second game. Sophomore Lauren Duff picked off a runner at third base in game one and threw out her 10th runner of the season at second in the night cap. She’s now 10-for-19 on runners caught stealing this season.

GAME ONE

It was a pitcher’s duel before junior Breanna Davenport led off the top of the fourth with her fifth double of the season. She moved to third after junior Jessie Mehr flew out to left for the second out before Duff stepped to the plate and sent a 2-2 pitch to the left field wall. Davenport scored easily from third and the Hokies took an early 1-0 lead.

After surrendering a two-run home run in the home half, Richardson bounced back with a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. Despite trailing by only a run heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Irish pieced together a four-run home half that put the game out of reach.

GAME TWO

Lattin worked an eight pitch one out walk in the top of the first of game two and swiped her second base of the day to move to second. The stolen base helped Tech jump out to a 1-0 lead as Strouth dropped an RBI single to right center.

The lead wouldn’t be held onto for long though as the Irish knotted up the score in the home half of the first and made it 3-1 after two. Tech left two on in the fourth and another runner on in the fifth but couldn’t drive a run home to extend the game.

With inclement weather in the forecast, both teams are looking to start the series finale at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Head to HokieSports.com and follow on Twitter at @VT_Softball for updates.

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