Hokies fall just short of Bruins
Tech got off to a strong start against UCLA, scoring three runs in the first inning. Senior center fielder Emma Ritter hit a single up the middle with the first pitch of the game. After Ritter stole second base, the Hokies added another baserunner on a single by senior infielder Cameron Fagan.
With two on and one out, junior Cori McMillan did what she does best all year and sent the ball over the fence. The home run marked her 21st of the year and gave her Tech a 3-0 lead.
Junior Emma Lemley pitched a shutout win in the first two innings, and the offense added another run in the second inning on an RBI single by senior left fielder Addie Green.
The Hokies led 4-0 until the bottom of the third inning, but the Bruins quickly turned the score around, adding two runs in the third and three in the fourth. Tech’s offense hit a wall that inning, with all six batters in the third and fourth innings finding their way.
Lemley, who had just picked up his 50th career win, left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs allowed, ultimately allowing four earned runs.
Tech tied the score at five in the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run by Green, and eventually took a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single by sophomore Teagan Srank.
The Hokies’ offense held a 6-5 lead into the second half after sophomore Lindsey Grein pitched back-to-back shutout innings. The Bruins beat Tech 7-6 with a triple and a walk-off RBI.
Hokies can’t find rhythm against GCU
About four hours after losing to UCLA, Tech began play in a do-or-die matchup against GCU.
There’s not much to say about this game, especially on the Hokies’ side. The Hokies didn’t score a run until the fifth inning, when Green’s sacrifice fly led to a double by freshman Annika Rose. This will be Tech’s only matchup against the Antelopes.
Freshman Emma Mazzarone pitched all six innings for the Hokies, allowing three earned runs and nine strikeouts. Despite Mazzarone’s performance and Tech defeating GCU 8-5, the Antelopes ended the Hokies’ season with a 4-1 win.
