No. 16 Virginia Tech Catches Fire In Fifth, Sweeps Boston College
Miles Jordan
Staff Writer
April 14, 2024
Virginia Tech's Cori McMillan hit a walk-off run-rule grand slam in the win over Boston College. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech (31-9-1, 14-4 ACC) completed its three-win home stand against Boston College (25-16, 5-10), tallying an electrifying 12 runs in the fifth inning to capture a 13-4 victory, ending the contest via the run-rule rule.
Tech trailed Boston College 4-1 through four and one-half innings after BC right fielder Jordan Stephens hit two home runs, advancing fielder Jules Shields to home at the top of the second and fourth innings. Hokies catcher Kylie Aldridge put Tech on the board at the bottom of the second inning, with a double down the left field line allowing second baseman Cameron Fagan to score.
The Hokies' fifth-inning spark was started by center fielder and lead-off hitter Emma Ritter, who lined a ball into left field, reaching on an error by Boston College left fielder Elisabeth Laviolette.
Hokies first baseman Michelle Chatfield and right fielder Cori McMillan were both walked following left fielder Addy Greene flying out to right field, leaving the bases loaded as Hokies third baseman Bre Peck stepped up to bat.
Peck singled into right center field and advanced to second base on the throw, which advanced McMillan to third base and allowed Chatfield and Ritter to score, cutting their deficit to one. The next at-bat, Fagan singled through the right side and advanced to second base on the throw, allowing McMillan and Peck to score and take the lead over Boston College 5-4.
Cameron was rewarded for her double at the next at-bat. Designated player Maija Louko stepped up to the plate, and just like Cameron, Louko singled through the right side and advanced to second, which allowed Cameron to score and extend the Hokies' lead to 6-4.
Aldridge then singled into right field, advancing Louko to third. Shortstop Annika Rohs was walked to load the bases, with Louko on Third, Aldridge on second, and Rohs on first. Rohs was the ninth hitter of the inning, leading to Ritter’s second at-bat of the frame. She singled up the middle, scoring Louko and Aldridge and advancing Rohs to third, adding two runs to extend the Hokies' lead to 8-4.
Continuing the Hokies' run, Greene reached first base on a perfectly executed safety squeeze, which allowed Rohs to score and Ritter to advance to second base. With Tech now leading 9-4, Chatfield was then walked on a full count to advance Ritter to third and Greene to second, setting the stage for McMillan with the bases loaded.
“I told her to hit a home run so we can go home,” Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said.
And that is what McMillan did. She homered to center field, sending all three of her teammates home and ending the game early in run-rule fashion.
The Hokies’ dominant fifth inning included 13 at-bats, 12 runs, and six hits, giving Virginia Tech its fifth straight run-ahead win. McMillan's walk-off home run secured a series sweep against Boston College and handed coach D’Amour his 300th career victory.
“I am glad I can help out in any way I could to help him win that accolade”McMillan said. “He came up to me when I was on deck, looked at me, and said ‘End it, hit a bomb, and end it.’”
It was a close game until the bottom of the fifth inning, with both pitchers controlling the pace. Hokies pitcher Lyndsey Grein struck out 10 to capture her ninth win as a starter (9-3) and record her sixth game this season with 10-plus strikeouts in a game.
Boston College pitcher Abby Dunning allowed only four hits in four innings, struck out five batters, and led the Eagles to a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning.
However, Dunning could not handle the aggressive, offensive attack by the Hokies and was pulled in the fifth inning after Greene’s bunt. Dunning could not record an out in the final inning and allowed eight runs before Addison Jackson, who pitched the remainder of the inning, walked Chatfield and surrendered McMillan’s walk-off home run.
“We always have each other's backs, on and off the field,” Grein said. “I made mistakes at my end twice and let them know that ‘It was on me, pick me up’ and that is exactly what they did.”
Grein acknowledged her mistakes but made it clear that the culture of Tech’s softball team allows players to succeed. Rather than becoming frustrated at a teammate's mistakes, Grein praised the camaraderie of her teammates and how that played a crucial role in their win on Sunday.
This win is huge for Virginia Tech’s program.
Tech completed its series sweep against the Eagles, capturing D’Amour’s 300th career victory and remaining undefeated at home (12-0) in front of Hokie Nation. The Hokies are 31-9-1 this season and hold their spot at No. 3 in the ACC with a 14-4 record in conference, only behind Florida State 12-3 and Duke 15-2.
Virginia Tech’s next contest is on Tuesday, April 16, in Charlottesville, where they will take on its in-state rivals Virginia at 6 p.m. ET. UVa currently holds the No. 5 seed in the ACC with an 11-7 record in conference.