Thursday, April 16
Lynchburg, Va.
2:00 PM
Liberty University
15-26
3
vs
10
Virginia Tech
18-20
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 2 |
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Hokies Paced by Six-Run Sixth to Defeat LU
4/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Bolstered by a six run sixth frame and two home runs from freshman Kristen Froehlich, the Hokies walked away with a 10-3 victory over the Lady Flames in Game 1 of a doubleheader, Thursday afternoon, at Liberty Softball field.
Liberty stayed with the Hokies until the sixth inning, as it was a one-run contest until that point.
Liberty starting pitcher Tiffani Smith opened the game by striking out leadoff batter Jenna Rhodes, but the Hokies put pressure on the Liberty defense immediately, putting two runners in scoring position. After back-to-back singles by Erin Ota and Charisse Mariconda, Jessica Everhart flied out to center for the second out. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, but Smith got out of the jam by striking out Beth Walker.
The Lady Flames were the first to put a run on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Beth Bennett led off, reaching on an fielding error by shortstop Ota. Danielle Howard was up next, and laid down a sacrifice bunt that third baseman Mariconda threw to second, attempting to force out Bennett. But the throw was not in time, and Liberty had runners on first and second with no outs.
But on the first pitch to Amber DePasquale, Howard took too far of a lead from first, and catcher Amber Walker threw the ball to the second baseman, who was covering first base on the bunt play, tagging her for the first out.
DePasquale singled up the middle, putting runners on first and third with one out. The Lady Flames scored on the next play, when Amber Walker made a throwing error on an attempt to catch DePasquale stealing second, and Bennett crossed the plate to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.
The Hokies stormed back in the top of the third, scoring two runs of their own to take the lead.
Rhodes started by reaching on a Liberty fielding error, with a hard hit ground ball to third. After Ota flied out to center for the first out, Mariconda walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Everhart then singled up the middle to bring Rhodes home, tying the game, 1-1. The Hokies took the lead on the next play, when Beth Walker singled to left field, scoring Mariconda.
Again in the top of the fourth, the Lady Flames put runners on first and second with no outs, but could not start an offensive surge to score.
The Hokies broke away in the sixth, scoring six runs on seven hits and one Liberty error. Froehlich homered to left field to bring in three of those runs, her first home run of her Virginia Tech career.
Froehlich notched her second home run of the day in the next inning to give the Hokies two more runs, extending the lead to seven.
DePasquale tried to start a comeback in the bottom of the seventh by leading off with a single through the right side. She advanced when McMillon grounded out to the pitcher, and Strickland reached when she was hit by a pitch to put two Liberty runners on base with one out.
After Kaylee West grounded out to first, pinch hitter Jenny Law came through when she ripped a single to right field, scoring DePasquale and pinch runner Jennifer Pittman. But the Lady Flames could not continue the rally, as the Hokies ended the game on the next play with a groundout by J'nae Jefferson, taking the 10-3 victory.
Froehlich led the Hokies, batting 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored.
The Lady Flames were led by Bennett and DePasquale, who were both 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Law, who drove in two runs on her seventh-inning hit.
Kenzie Roark (13-11) picked up the win in the circle for Virginia Tech, giving up two hits and striking out two batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Smith (7-9) took the loss, scattering 12 hits and striking out six batters in 6.0 innings. Relief pitcher Allyson Hudson threw one complete inning, giving up two hits and striking out one.
The Hokies improve to 18-20 overall, while Liberty falls to 15-26 on the year.
The two teams will meet again this afternoon for Game 2 of the doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field.
Liberty stayed with the Hokies until the sixth inning, as it was a one-run contest until that point.
Liberty starting pitcher Tiffani Smith opened the game by striking out leadoff batter Jenna Rhodes, but the Hokies put pressure on the Liberty defense immediately, putting two runners in scoring position. After back-to-back singles by Erin Ota and Charisse Mariconda, Jessica Everhart flied out to center for the second out. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, but Smith got out of the jam by striking out Beth Walker.
The Lady Flames were the first to put a run on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Beth Bennett led off, reaching on an fielding error by shortstop Ota. Danielle Howard was up next, and laid down a sacrifice bunt that third baseman Mariconda threw to second, attempting to force out Bennett. But the throw was not in time, and Liberty had runners on first and second with no outs.
But on the first pitch to Amber DePasquale, Howard took too far of a lead from first, and catcher Amber Walker threw the ball to the second baseman, who was covering first base on the bunt play, tagging her for the first out.
DePasquale singled up the middle, putting runners on first and third with one out. The Lady Flames scored on the next play, when Amber Walker made a throwing error on an attempt to catch DePasquale stealing second, and Bennett crossed the plate to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.
The Hokies stormed back in the top of the third, scoring two runs of their own to take the lead.
Rhodes started by reaching on a Liberty fielding error, with a hard hit ground ball to third. After Ota flied out to center for the first out, Mariconda walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Everhart then singled up the middle to bring Rhodes home, tying the game, 1-1. The Hokies took the lead on the next play, when Beth Walker singled to left field, scoring Mariconda.
Again in the top of the fourth, the Lady Flames put runners on first and second with no outs, but could not start an offensive surge to score.
The Hokies broke away in the sixth, scoring six runs on seven hits and one Liberty error. Froehlich homered to left field to bring in three of those runs, her first home run of her Virginia Tech career.
Froehlich notched her second home run of the day in the next inning to give the Hokies two more runs, extending the lead to seven.
DePasquale tried to start a comeback in the bottom of the seventh by leading off with a single through the right side. She advanced when McMillon grounded out to the pitcher, and Strickland reached when she was hit by a pitch to put two Liberty runners on base with one out.
After Kaylee West grounded out to first, pinch hitter Jenny Law came through when she ripped a single to right field, scoring DePasquale and pinch runner Jennifer Pittman. But the Lady Flames could not continue the rally, as the Hokies ended the game on the next play with a groundout by J'nae Jefferson, taking the 10-3 victory.
Froehlich led the Hokies, batting 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored.
The Lady Flames were led by Bennett and DePasquale, who were both 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Law, who drove in two runs on her seventh-inning hit.
Kenzie Roark (13-11) picked up the win in the circle for Virginia Tech, giving up two hits and striking out two batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Smith (7-9) took the loss, scattering 12 hits and striking out six batters in 6.0 innings. Relief pitcher Allyson Hudson threw one complete inning, giving up two hits and striking out one.
The Hokies improve to 18-20 overall, while Liberty falls to 15-26 on the year.
The two teams will meet again this afternoon for Game 2 of the doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kenzie Roark (13-11)
L: Smith, Tiffani (7-9)
Batting:
2B: Kristin Graham 2
HR: Kristen Froehlich 2
RBI: Erin Ota 2 ; Jessica Everhart 2 ; Beth Walker 1 ; Kristen Froehlich 5
SF: Jessica Everhart 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Rhodes 2 ; Erin Ota 1 ; Charisse Mariconda 1 ; Beth Walker 1 ; Kristin Graham 2 ; Kristen Froehlich 2 ; Kelsey Hensel 1
SB: Jenna Rhodes 2 ; Charisse Mariconda 1
Batting:
RBI: Law, Jenny 2
SH: Howard, Danielle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bennett, Beth 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Pittman, Jennifer 1
SB: DePasquale, Amber 1
CS: Howard, Danielle 1
HBP: Strickland, Kelly 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
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