Two homer day for Gonzalez not enough against Elon

The Phoenix take two from the Hokies in a doubleheader on Wednesday

April 5, 2017

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Elon (22-13)	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	6	1
Virginia Tech (15-20)	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	11	2
Tech Softball Park Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Elon (23-13)	0	3	0	0	3	0	1	7	7	1
Virginia Tech (15-21)	0	0	3	1	1	0	0	5	10	2
Tech Softball Park - 267 Box Score Photo Gallery

BLACKSBURG - Despite a productive day at the plate from senior Vanessa Gonzalez, the Virginia Tech softball team (15-21) dropped a doubleheader to Elon (23-13), 4-3 in game one and 7-5 in game two, on Wednesday at Tech Softball Park.

Gonzalez went 4-for-7 with two home runs and four RBI over the two games. The Torrance, California native now has 10 homers on the season, a career-high, and 26 in her career, tying Lauren Gaskill for fifth on the program’s all-time home run list. Sophomore Emma Strouth went 5-for-8 in the twin bill with an RBI triple, her team-best third of the season.

GAME ONE

After freshman Taylor Barnes worked a 1-2-3 first inning in the circle, Gonzalez led off the home half with her ninth home run of the season, setting a new career-high. The Hokies weren’t done in the inning as junior Breanna Davenport stroked a two-out double to left center field and was driven home on an RBI single from Strouth that made it 2-0 Tech.

The Phoenix responded with a four-run top of the second to jump back on top, 4-2. The Hokies threatened in the bottom of the fourth after back-to-back singles from sophomore Lauren Duff and junior Caroline Schoenewald but ultimately couldn’t push a run across.

Tech made it 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from junior Jessie Mehr and Barnes retired five of her final six batters to keep it a one-run game. The Hokies put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh on singles from Gonzalez and junior Aysha Richardson but they couldn’t extend the game.

GAME TWO

With the Hokies down 3-0 entering the bottom of the third, Mehr led off the inning with a single and then moved to second on a walk from freshman Carrie Eberle. Gonzalez then stepped to the plate and launched her second home run of the doubleheader to the tie the game at 3-3.

After retiring the side in order in the fourth, Eberle helped her own cause with a go-ahead RBI single up the middle that plated Strouth and gave the Hokies a 4-3 lead.

The Phoenix posted a crooked number in the fifth to regain the lead, 6-4, but an RBI triple off the bat of Strouth cut the deficit to one, 6-5. It wouldn’t be enough though as Elon tacked on a key insurance run in the visiting half of the seventh before closing the door in the bottom half.

Tech returns to action this weekend as they hit the road for a three-game series at Pitt.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball