The Virginia Tech softball team (10-16) split a doubleheader with local rival Radford (17-6) Tuesday evening at Tech Softball Park. After winning a close first game, 4-2, the Hokies relinquished a four-run late-inning advantage to lose a lopsided nightcap.
Despite the first win, head coach Scot Thomas wasn't pleased with his team's performance, particularly late in the second game.
"I was thoroughly disgusted with the way we played in the top of the seventh and the lack of urgency," Thomas said. "It was horrible. Hopefully we learned from it because that was embarrassing. And we allowed it to be created."
The opener started with plenty of action, including a play at the plate and a few runs in the first inning. In the top of the frame, with two outs and a runner on first base, Nicole Beall of Radford hit a bloop single to center which was almost caught by a diving Jessica Everhart. After the ball was juggled, the runner from first, Kristen Shifflett, tried scoring but was gunned down by second baseman Kristen Froehlich.
In the bottom of the first, Tech was able to manage two runs on a Radford error. After Erin Ota, Charisse Mariconda and Kristin Graham were walked to load the bases with two outs, Froehlich hit a high fly ball in the infield. But Highlander second baseman Jenn Everhart misjudged the ball in the heavy winds and dropped it, allowing Ota and Mariconda to score.
Radford was able to get a run back in the second on a triple by Jenn Everhart, the sister of the Hokies' Jessica Everhart. Although the sisters wish they could play on the same team, they still try to enjoy be opponents.
"It's always fun for us," Jessica Everhart said. "We don't really take it to heart, we just have fun with it and enjoy seeing each other out there."
Tech was able to steal that run right back from the Highlanders on a Graham third inning solo home run to left field. It was just her second homer of the season and it turned out to be the game-winning run.
After both teams were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, Radford brought the bats out in the sixth. Shifflett led off for Radford with a solo shot to make the score 3-2. After a triple, a walk and a steal of second base, Kenzi Roark came in to relieve Abbie Rexrode with one out. Roark was able to successfully manage the jam with a strike out and fly out to retire the side.
In the bottom of the inning, Tech was able to answer yet again. After Whitney Davis and Marra Hvozdovic walked, Rhodes got an infield single to load the bases. Mariconda drew a base on balls with two outs to give the Hokies an insurance run going into the last inning.
In the seventh, Roark recorded two quick ground outs and the game seemed all but finished.
But Radford wasn't done and drew three straight walks to load the bases. But Roark got the ever-crucial punch-out to preserve the win and record her first save of the season. In total, she pitched 1.2 innings and allowing no hits and no runs while striking out two.
Rexrode earned the win for Tech, going 5.1 innings while giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out a pair.
"My change-ups were working really well today," Rexrode said. "I was hitting my spots. I mostly just stuck with change-up's fast balls and drop balls. I was just hitting my sport really good."
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