Rochard no-hits the Knights in narrow pitcher's duel

By Ishan Lamba

Staff Writer

April 3, 2022

Swing and a miss! Swing and a miss! Swing and a miss! Head umpire Hal Morgan was pumping his fist with regularity Sunday afternoon, as the game’s two pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts in a top-25 pitcher’s duel that saw the Hokies squeak out a victory, 1-0.

The matchup was as perfect as the weather itself, with red-hot No. 22 Central Florida (29-9) looking to continue its momentum against an equally hot No. 5 Virginia Tech (26-3) in the first game of a doubleheader.

Both teams had won 18 of their last 19 games and had threatening pitchers in the circle.

Game 1 of the doubleheader featured Keely Rochard, the reigning ACC pitcher of the year, and Gianna Mancha, a respectable pitcher in her own right, being named to Second Team All-AAC and tossing a no-hitter last season.

In a blink of an eye, the Hokies were on the attack, with Kelsey Brown swinging at the first pitch and burning the Knights’ infield with her speed to get on base.

She would steal second during Fagan’s at-bat and advance to third on the pick-off throw from catcher Jada Cody.

After Fagan was able to reach on a fielder’s choice, Ritter continued her hot streak by punching one back at Mancha, who couldn’t field it cleanly, allowing Brown to score.

UCF was able to work out of the jam before Rochard began to work.

A strikeout, a lineout, and a groundout concluded a relatively routine first inning for the Hokies’ ace.

After the blip in the first inning, Mancha also locked in and responded with a one-two-three inning of her own.

Rochard would reply back with another and Mancha would surrender just a single in her next shift.

Back and forth the two went, with different methods to their approach.

Rochard was willing and able to fan just about every batter she faced, striking out nine-of-11 batters at one point. Meanwhile, Mancha kept inducing poor contact from all the VT hitters with her fielders backing her up.

After 20 straight batters from both teams failed to reach base, the streak –– and Rochard’s perfect game –– were broken when she let up a four-pitch walk in the bottom of the sixth.

While this was the opening the Knights needed to climb back into a 1-0 game, Justene Molina was only able to reach as far as second, courtesy of a sacrifice bunt, before Rochard put a stop to her venture.

Ritter also drew a walk in the top of the seventh but the inning concluded just as quickly, with no insurance runs.

All it took to tie was one swing of the bat, a swing of the bat which did not come for the Knights. They sputtered against Rochard, just as they had all day, to seal the no-hitter for Virginia Tech’s veteran, the eighth of her career.

After a doubleheader no-hitter against Longwood last week from Emma Lemley and Ivy Rosenberry, Rochard made it three no-no’s in five games by three different pitchers.

The formidable bullpen for Tech continues to look stronger as it heads into the rest of its weekend series with UCF.