Hokies split midweek doubleheader at Liberty

Tech snaps the Flames' 13 game win streak

April 18, 2017

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (16-28)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	6
Liberty (32-16)	0	0	0	0	6	0	X	6	6	1
LU Softball Stadium Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (17-28)	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	3	5	1
Liberty (32-17)	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	6	2
LU Softball Stadium - 866 Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Sophomore Lauren Duff went 2-for-5 with two RBI over two games and freshman Carrie Eberle allowed zero runs in 6.2 innings of work and earned a save in the Virginia Tech softball team’s doubleheader split with Liberty on Tuesday evening.

The Hokies (17-28) defeated the Flames (32-17) 3-2 in the nightcap but fell 6-0 in the first game. Tech’s game two win snapped Liberty’s 13 game win streak.

Freshman Taylor Barnes (5-9) picked up the win in the second game after allowing two runs and striking out two in five innings of work. Eberle earned her second save of the season.

GAME ONE

Senior Vanessa Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a double and Eberle struck out five in 4.2 innings of work. Despite carrying a shutout into the bottom of the fifth, the six runs given up by Eberle in the fifth were all unearned due a costly error.

The Hokies had runners reach in each of the first four innings, including two in the fourth, but they weren’t able to get a run across. In the fourth, Duff reached on an infield single and junior Caroline Schoenewald reached on an error.

Senior Elizabeth Birle came on in relief of Eberle in the fifth and picked up two strikeouts. She then tallied her career-best third K in the sixth.

GAME TWO

In the top of the fourth, a walk from Gonzalez and an infield single from junior Breanna Davenport gave Tech runners on first and second for Duff, who delivered with an RBI single to shallow left that gave the Hokies a 1-0 lead. It marked the first time in 66 innings that the Flames had trailed.

After the Flames responded with a run in the fourth and the go-ahead run in the fifth, sophomore Olivia Lattin led off the top of the sixth with a single and moved to second after the ball was bobbled by the left fielder. Gonzalez followed with a walk and both runners moved up on a wild pitch.

With Lattin now at third, a single by Davenport brought her home on a single to tie the game at 2-2. The Hokies then put on a successful suicide squeeze with one out that scored the go-ahead from third in Gonzalez, 3-2.

A lead-off walk in the home half of the sixth led to Barnes’ departure. Eberle came on in relief to record the six out save and as she retired the side in the sixth and worked a 1-2-3 seventh for her second save of the season.

The Hokies return to action tomorrow as they travel to Radford for a 5 p.m. first pitch.

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