Hokies travel to Syracuse for regular season finale

Eberle looks to continue her strong play as her freshman campaign comes to a close

April 27, 2017

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech softball teams travels to Syracuse this weekend for a three-game series to wrap up the regular season. The Hokies (19-31, 5-16 ACC) are coming a 2-0 win over Radford in the home finale on Wednesday evening and are 2-1 this week heading into their final ACC series.

The Hokies split a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Tuesday that featured a combined shutout between freshman Carrie Eberle and senior Elizabeth Birle. Eberle posted another shutout, the first solo shutout of her career, in Tech’s win over the Highlanders.

The Orange (27-18, 7-10 ACC) leads the all-time series with the Hokies, 9-7. The two teams last met in 2015 when the Hokies swept a three-game set in Blacksburg. Tech has won the last four meetings with Syracuse including their 10-4 win in the ACC Tournament on May 8, 2014 in College Park, Maryland.

EBERLE’S BIG WEEK
• Freshman Carrie Eberle is finishing out her first season in Blacksburg on a high note as she’s picked up two wins, two shutouts and hasn’t allowed an earned run in three appearances this week.
• In the Hokies’ doubleheader split against Western Carolina, Eberle tossed 7.1 innings and went 1-1. The loss came in relief where she gave up no earned runs in 2.1 innings.
• The next day, Eberle tossed a complete game one-hit shutout in Tech’s 2-0 win over Radford.
• Eberle has also gone 4-for-5 at the plate in her two starts.

INJURY BUG BITES THE HOKIES
• Junior Aysha Richardson, who was having a career-year at the plate and in the circle, is out for the season after getting hit in the eye by a line drive while pitching in practice.
• Sophomore Caitlyn Nolan - the Hokies’ shortstop and best defensive player who was hitting .234 with six doubles - suffered a season-ending knee injury in the series finale against Georgia Tech.
• Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Whitcomb continues to deal with a right hand injury that has significantly limited her playing time.
• She made her first appearance in the field since March 11 vs. Florida State on April 25 at shortstop against Western Carolina.
• Nolan and Richardson join junior pitcher Mikaela Aiken, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in February, on the list of Hokies on the list of that are out indefinitely.

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