VIRGINIA TECH CLINCHES SERIES OVER STANFORD IN THRILLING FINISH

BLACKSBURG – In one of the wildest games of the season, No. 12 Virginia Tech (27-5, 7-1 ACC) edged out No. 16 Stanford (24-5, 8-3) 8-7 to secure the series in thrilling fashion.

It was an exciting day at Tech Softball Park as over 40 softball alumni were honored before the game. Two-time ACC Player of the Year, Keely Rouchard Sudberry, threw out the first pitch to Emma Lemley.

“I saw, I think six of my former players, and there’s like 45 other ones that I got to meet,” Tech head coach Pete D’Amour said. “They’re proud of our program. They built this, so they are part of it. We always talk about fighting for your teammates, but we fought for them today too.”

D’Amour handed the ball to sophomore Emma Mazzarone to start the game, and she came out strong. Against a dangerous Cardinal offense, she set the tone early, retiring the first three batters she faced.

The Hokies wasted no time to gain an early lead. 

After Stanford’s Alyssa Houston got the first two batters out, second baseman Rachel Castine doubled down the left field line, passing a diving Jade Berry at third. 

Following a Bre Peck walk, Houston was pulled in favor of Stanford’s ace senior pitcher, Kylie Chung. Chung struggled early with command, hitting the first two batters she faced causing a run to score giving Tech an early 1-0 lead. 

Zoe Yaeger then came to the plate with the bases loaded and rocketed a single up the middle to give her team a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Mazzarone was in control early against Stanford’s high-powered offense, which ranks fifth nationally in batting average. She was able to retire the first 10 batters in order. 

Mazzarone ran into trouble in the top of the fourth when Stanford’s River Mahler hit a solo shot to left field, giving Stanford its first run and its first base runner of the afternoon.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Hokies were able to get some traffic on base with a leadoff single by Yaeger and a four pitch walk by McMillan. Chung was able to halt Tech’s momentum though, striking out Chatfield to end the inning. 

The Cardinal offense found their footing in the top of the fifth. After Mazzarone struck out the first batter of the inning, junior Kyra Chan and senior Allie Clements both hit hard singles into the outfield to give Stanford runners on first and second with just one out. 

Graduate student Caelan Koch dribbled a weak groundout to first, advancing the runners. Then, Chung came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and gave herself her own run support. 

She hit a rocket into left field scoring both runs to tie the game at three. Taryn Kern got in on the action driving a two-run home run onto Beamer Way, giving Stanford its first lead of the day of 5-3.

After the Hokies were unable to score in the bottom of the frame, Stanford wasted no time continuing the offensive flurry in the top of the sixth. Coach D’Amour switched pitchers, handing the ball to Sophie Kleiman. The Cardinal offense got to Kleiman early via two singles to start the inning by Mahler and Joie Economides. 

The momentum clearly had shifted towards Stanford.

That was until defensive replacement Lyla Blackwell made one of the best diving catches of the season in left field. Stanford’s baserunners, not expecting Blackwell to make the snag, were running on contact. 

After Blackwell made the spectacular catch, she threw the ball to second to double off one runner and then was thrown back to first to double off the other for a triple play. It was the very first triple play in Virginia Tech softball history. 

“It was pretty much about trust in myself,” Blackwell said. “I saw that I had a really good jump, I was just confident in the moment. The worst thing that could happen is I miss it and Bre Peck is right behind me, so I just gave it my all.”

In the bottom of the inning, the Hokies looked to capitalize on the defensive heroics of Blackwell. Leadoff batter Kylie Aldridge wasted no time, swinging at the first pitch, roping a ball into center field for a single. 

After Yaeger struck out, pinch hitter Emily LeGette flew out on the first pitch. D’Amour went to his bench again as Jayden Jones pinch hit for Annika Rohs, and Jones was able to work a four pitch walk putting the tying run on first base. 

McMillan stepped up to the plate and drove the ball just under the shortstop River’s glove, rolling all the way to the outfield wall, scoring both runners, tying the game at five. McMillan’s double was her 200th hit in her collegiate career.

“The first three at bats of today they kept me quiet,” McMillan said. “I knew I was due. I was just looking for my pitch, looking to poke it through, trying to get a base hit. She threw me my pitch and I was ready for it.”

Tied at five, the Hokies were not done. Chatfield singled up the middle, allowing McMillan to score, giving the Hokies the lead again. Chung was pulled for Zoe Prystajko to face Castine. With a 1-0 count, Castine smashes a deep shot to left, clearing the fence and extending Tech’s lead to 8-5.

With a three run lead going into the seventh, D’Amour turned to his ace Emma Lemley to get the final three outs. Lemley started off hot, striking out the first batter in Chan. 

However, Stanford was not going out without a fight. Clements stepped up to the plate and worked a walk. Mylia Perez then doubled to left-center, putting runners on second and third. 

Head Coach Jessica Allister went to her bench, putting Camryn Carmouche up to bat against Lemley. This decision paid off as Carmouche doubled to left, scoring both runners and Stanford is only down a run with a runner in scoring position with just one out. D’Amour went out to talk to Lemley to settle her down with the top of the order coming up.

“I just told her to keep making pitches,” D’Amour said. “We needed an out, attitude and for her to just keep making pitches.”

Following the visit, Kern stepped up to the plate with the chance to tie or give Stanford the lead. 

Kern worked a tough at-bat, but she was unable to check her swing, giving the Hokies a second out. Emily Jones was Stanford’s last hope, but Lemley sealed the win as Jones flew out to right field, securing the series for Tech.

Virginia Tech and Stanford will conclude this thrilling series on Sunday at Tech Softball Park. First pitch is at noon and coverage for the game will be on ACC Network.