No. 14 VIRGINIA TECH'S OFFENSE SILENT IN LOSS TO NO. 13 FLORIDA STATE

Chris Hirons

February 20, 2021

ATLANTA, Ga. — Heading into the first game of Saturday afternoon’s double header, Florida State starter Kathryn Sandercock trotted out to the circle with an ERA above five.

It hasn’t been pretty for the redshirt sophomore in her first four appearances this season. On Thursday, Sandercock allowed three runs in her two innings of work as she pitched in the second leg of a doubleheader. And, just over a week ago, Sandercock allowed six runs in her first start of the season over Missouri.

Virginia Tech should have been able to have its way with Sandercock’s inconsistency, especially after tagging Clemson for 13 runs across two games yesterday.

Aside from a first inning home run from designated player Grace Chavez, Sandercock carved through the Hokies’ lineup with relative ease as her arm carried No. 13 Florida State (7-1, 4-0 ACC) past No. 14 Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-2 ACC), 7-1.

After Florida State struck in the first inning with three hits and with a run via Elizabeth Mason’s double off of VT starter Ivy Rosenberry, Chavez delivered a counter-punch with a solo home run that narrowly missed the left field scoreboard in the bottom of the first.

As soon as Rosenberry settled in by retiring the side in the second inning, the Seminoles’ bats awoke in the third when second baseman Devyn Flaherty singled, followed by first baseman Elizabeth Mason’s double to put two runners in scoring position with only an out.

The Hokies’ wheels fell off the wagon early in the third when VT third baseman Kelsey Bennett chose to throw home instead of first base in an attempt to cut down Flaherty, who dove safely into home. The fielder’s choice was followed by a Rosenberry error, which gave Mason a chance to score and put runners on second and third.

Another fielder’s choice, a second throwing error and a single Anna Shelnutt allowed Florida State to break the game wide open and crush any momentum the Hokies were building, 7-1.

After first baseman Meredith Slaw was hit by a pitch with an out in the second inning, Sandercock retired the next 15 Virginia Tech batters until Bennett walked on four pitches in the seventh inning. By then, though, the walk was nothing more than a boost of pride heading into the second game of the Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader.

Sandercock worked a masterpiece, limiting the Hokies to just three hits all afternoon and struck out eight along the way. She mixed her speeds well and located her pitches — no two looked the same.

On the opposing side of the circle, a day after working her second career shutout in as many starts, Rosenberry was roughed up and only pitched three innings. She allowed six hits and seven runs to cross the plate, though only four were earned.

Mackenzie Osborne replaced Rosenberry in the fourth as she stopped the bleeding, allowing a hit and a walk across her four innings of work.

Heading into the second leg of a doubleheader, stopping the bleeding was all Virginia Tech manager Pete D’Amour could have asked of his team.