Hokies best Cagle, take Game 1 of weekend series

By Ishan Lamba

Staff Writer

March 4, 2022

Under an overcast sky at McWhorter Stadium, a talented two-way freshman, Valerie Cagle, was stumping the Hokies in every possible way. She surrendered just one run in seven innings and scored an unearned run to give Clemson the 8-1 victory over Virginia Tech in the first game of the teams’ weekend series. That was last year, though.

Cagle, now in her second season, faced Keely Rochard in a rematch top-10, Friday- afternoon at the same venue.

Last February, in their first matchup, Rochard struggled mightily, giving up six runs and getting pulled after four innings.

On Friday, however, Rochard and No. 6 Virginia Tech (12-3, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) got the better of No. 9 Clemson (12-4, 0-1 ACC), defeating the Tigers 6-1.

As expected, fans in attendance were treated to a pitcher’s duel for the first three innings, with the two aces allowing a combined four hits.

The game busted wide open in the top of the fourth, though, when the Hokies started to time up Cagle’s tactics.

Two first pitch singles by Morgan Overaitis and Emma Ritter put sudden pressure on the Tigers with nobody out. Kelsey Bennett then loaded the bases by singling on the second pitch of her at-bat.

Cagle seemed to regain control against Bre Peck, but ended up walking her in eight pitches for the first run of the game.

With the bases still loaded and the Hokies leading 1-0, Jayme Bailey stepped up to bat.

As the waist-high ball approached the plate, Bailey planted her left leg, swung her bat, and dispatched the first pitch into center field, striking the leftmost flag pole beyond the wall.

A 1-0 lead stretched into a 5-0 lead in a hurry, but head coach John Rittman stuck with his starter.

However, after three consecutive singles scored Mackenzie Lawter and extended the lead to six, Rittman had seen enough and pulled Cagle in favor of Regan Spencer.

After Spencer ended the inning quickly, Tech kept its foot on the gas, stifling any offense from Clemson.

Rochard’s night ended after 5 ⅔ shutout innings before Ivy Rosenberry relieved her, allowing just one run to finish the game.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra.