No. 11 James Madison gets by Hokies in doubleheader

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Virginia Tech (13-17) 0000000030
(11) James Madison (27-4) 101000X251
  • Veterans Memorial
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Virginia Tech (13-18) 0010104691
(11) James Madison (28-4) 130102X7110
  • Veterans Memorial - 1,332

HARRISONBURG, Va. - A stellar start from freshman Carrie Eberle in game one and a furious four-run rally in the top of the seventh of the second game weren’t enough for the Virginia Tech softball team in a doubleheader in front a crowd of 1,332 at No. 11 James Madison on Wednesday evening.

The Dukes (28-4) took the first game 2-0 and barely held on in the night cap, 7-6. The Hokies fell to 13-18 overall with the two losses. Junior Breanna Davenport went 4-for-7 with a home run, a double and three RBI over the two games. Despite taking the loss, Eberle tossed six innings and allowed only two runs while striking out four.

GAME ONE

With the Dukes up 1-0 after one, Eberle retired the side in the second and nearly blanked JMU again but a comebacker that hit off her leg scored the second run of the game.

The freshman would go on to throw zeros in the final three innings including 1-2-3 frames in the fourth and sixth.

Going up against All-American pitcher Megan Good, the Hokies plced a runner on in each of the first three innings. Davenport laced a two-out single up the middle in the first, freshman Hannah Jones dropped a double into left in the second and senior Vanessa Gonzalez reached on an error in the third.

Tech threatened again in the top of the seventh. With one out, sophomore Lauren Duff ripped a one out single to left center and was replaced at first by pinch runner Chelsea Whitcomb. Junior Jessie Mehr was the next batter and reached on fielder’s choice after Whitcomb was called safe at second on a grounder to the shortstop.

It wouldn’t be enough though as Good induced a ground out and a pop up to end the game.

GAME TWO

After senior Elizabeth Birle came on in the bottom of the sixth to record the final two outs, junior Caroline Schoenewald led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run, her second of the season that made it 7-3.

With a runner on and two out, Davenport hit a two-run bomb to left center that cut the Hokies’ deficit to three, 7-5. On the very next pitch and the very next batter, sophomore Emma Strouth sent her sixth home run of the season over the left center field fence that made it a one-run ballgame. The two-out rally fell short though as the Dukes got the final out to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The Hokies trailed 4-0 early but got on the board in the top of the third. With two outs, Gonzalez worked a walk and stole second before Davenport drove her in with a double to gap that made it 4-1.

Sophomore Olivia Lattin hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth that made it a three-run game again, 5-2, but JMU picked up two key insurance runs in the home half of the sixth that made it 7-2.

The Hokies will return to Tech Softball Park this weekend for a three-game series against Georgia Tech.

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