Softball Beaten For First Time In 2026 In Friday Doubleheader

For the first time in 2026, Virginia Tech softball lost a game. After claiming a 7-3 victory over Villanova to open the day, the Hokies stumbled to Michigan State, coming apart in a six-run second-inning that dashed their hopes of staying unbeaten.

Game 1: Virginia Tech 7, Villanova 3

No. 14 Virginia Tech (6-0) stayed unbeaten Friday morning, riding a steady pitching effort and timely extra-base hits to a 7-3 win over Villanova (0-7) in Charlotte.

Junior Emma Mazzarone controlled the early innings and gave Virginia Tech exactly what it needed in the circle. The right-hander worked four no-hit frames, striking out eight while allowing just one baserunner via a walk. Through the first four innings, Villanova struggled to generate any kind of contact, repeatedly coming up empty against Mazzarone’s mix.

Virginia Tech broke through in the second inning. Designated player Kylie Aldridge singled to open the frame and moved into scoring position before left fielder Nora Abromavage drove a ball out to left, putting the Hokies up 2-0. An inning later, center fielder Addison Foster reached and came around to score on Zoe Yaeger’s double through the left side, stretching the lead to three.

Then, the game tilted firmly in the fifth. Foster reached again to start the inning, and a Villanova miscue allowed third baseman Jordan Lynch to get on and move into scoring position. Yaeger made Villanova pay for its mistake, sending a three-run shot to center to make it 6-0.

The Hokies weren’t done. After Aldridge reached and pinch runner Sara McNelly entered to run, second baseman Gaby Mizelle singled up the middle to plate another run and extend the margin to seven, before Villanova piled up three runs in the last three innings to soften the blow.

Yaeger led the way offensively, finishing with four RBIs on two hits, including the home run and an earlier run-scoring double. Abromavage added a two-run homer of her own and reached base three times, while Foster scored twice at the top of the lineup.

Virginia Tech’s pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and allowed just three hits, keeping the Wildcats quiet for most of the morning. The Hokies also played clean defense behind them, committing no errors en route to a relatively comfortable win.

Game 2: Michigan State 7, Virginia Tech 6

After its comfortable win over Villanova to open the tournament, Virginia Tech’s unbeaten start came undone in a single inning Friday afternoon.

The Hokies (6-1) built an early three-run cushion but could not recover from a six-run second, falling 7-6 to Michigan State (5-1) in Charlotte. The loss marked Virginia Tech’s first of the season, dropping the Hokies to 6-1 despite out-hitting the Spartans 12-7.

For five of the seven innings, Virginia Tech looked like the sharper club. The Hokies struck first in the opening frame when Foster doubled to left-center and scored on Lynch’s single through the right side. Later in the inning, Abromavage added an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0.

Second baseman Rachel Castine extended the lead in the second, turning on a pitch and sending it out to right-center for a solo homer. At 3-0, Virginia Tech had momentum and traffic on the bases.

Then the bottom of the second flipped the game.

Michigan State capitalized on defensive miscues and free passes, stringing together three hits, two walks and two Virginia Tech errors in the inning. What began with a leadoff reach quickly snowballed. A two-run single cut the deficit to one. A two-run double gave the Spartans the lead. Another run scored on a groundout, and a double down the left-field line pushed the frame to six runs.

Only three of the six runs were earned, but the damage was decisive.

Sophie Kleiman (1-1) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs — three earned — in an inning of work. Bree Carrico settled things down in relief, tossing five innings and allowing just one run while striking out six. From the third inning on, the Hokies largely contained Michigan State. The problem was the hole they were trying to climb out of.

In the fourth, Foster singled to open the inning, and Lynch followed by driving a ball to center for a two-run homer, trimming the deficit to 6-5. Lynch finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, continuing her strong start at the plate.

The Spartans added what proved to be the decisive run in the fifth on an RBI single to center, stretching the lead to 7-5.

The Hokies answered again in the sixth. Lynch doubled to right, Yaeger drew a walk, and Aldridge delivered an RBI single up the middle to make it 7-6. The tying run moved into scoring position, but Michigan State escaped further damage.

Virginia Tech left 10 runners on base and went quiet in the seventh. Facing the Spartans’ closer, the Hokies went down in order, sealing the loss. Offensively, there was plenty to like. Foster reached twice and scored twice. Aldridge and Abromavage each collected two hits. The Hokies produced 12 hits overall and forced Michigan State to use three pitchers.

But the six-run second loomed over everything.

Two defensive errors extended the inning. A wild pitch and a pair of walks created traffic. Well-placed extra-base hits did the rest for Michigan State.

Through the first week and change of the season, Virginia Tech had largely controlled games with clean defense and steady pitching. Friday’s second inning was the exception — and it proved costly. The Hokies now move forward with their first blemish of 2026, a reminder of how quickly momentum can swing. For six innings, Virginia Tech showed it could match Michigan State. In one inning, it lost the game.

Virginia Tech continues the tournament tomorrow with a 10:30 a.m. rematch with Villanova, then a 3 p.m. billing vs. Charlotte.