Virginia Tech Softball Evens Series with 5-2 Win Over No. 19 Virginia
By John doe
No. 11 Virginia Tech bounced back in dominant fashion on Saturday, defeating No. 19 Virginia 5-2 at Palmer Park to even the three-game series at one apiece.
Right-handed pitcher Bree Carrico delivered a stellar performance in the circle, allowing one earned run on three hits over seven innings while striking out five. Her effort was backed by highlight-reel defense from left fielder Nora Abromavage, who made two diving catches including a game-ending grab that sealed the victory.
Carrico and Defense Shine
Abromavage's first diving catch came on the game's opening batter, robbing Cavaliers leadoff hitter Jade Hylton of a hit. With the Hokies leading by three runs in the seventh, she repeated the feat, again denying Hylton to end the game and set up a rubber match on Sunday.
"I thought it was great," Carrico said of the defense. "I needed them to step up. Obviously, we didn't do well yesterday on offense, but they came in today in the field working their butts off for me."
Early Offense Sets the Tone
After managing just three hits in Friday's series opener, the Hokies offense came alive early. Center fielder Addison Foster led off the game with a single and scored on a wild pitch and throwing error. Foster finished the day 2-for-4 with an RBI, raising her batting average to .431.
Tech added three more runs in the second inning, highlighted by Michelle Chatfield's two-run single. The offensive output chased Virginia starting pitcher Courtney Lane after just two innings. Lane surrendered three earned runs on six hits.
Resilience on Display
The Hokies have emphasized staying present all season, a mentality that served them well in bouncing back from Friday's loss.
"That's what softball is," said head coach Pete D'Amour. "You're not going to be undefeated, and you're not going to hit 1.000. You're not going to have a 0.00 ERA. Can you come back the next day and do your best and see what happens?"
Carrico echoed that sentiment, noting the team's resilience throughout the season.
"We've bounced back from a lot of tough losses, and I think it just shows our resilience and how good that we can be," Carrico said.
Looking Ahead
The series will be decided Sunday at 4 p.m. ET at Palmer Park, with the winner claiming the series between the ranked rivals.
"I think we answered adversity really well," Carrico said. "I'm so proud of this team for how we came back today, and I just know we're going to come out the same way tomorrow."
