Hokies take two from UVA to complete sweep

Tech wins a three-game series in Charlottesville for the first time since 2007

April 14, 2018

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia Tech took both games of its doubleheader on Saturday against Virginia to complete its first series sweep in Charlottesville since 2007.

The Hokies (19-24, 5-12 ACC) won the first game, 9-4, before taking the series finale, 3-2.

Senior Jessie Mehr went 3 for 6 with a three-run home run over the two games while Tech saw two strong performances in the circle from freshman Jordan Dail and sophomore Carrie Eberle.

Virginia Tech went 4-1 this week and clinched the softball team point in the Commonwealth Clash, presented by Virginia529. The Hokies now lead 8.5-6.5 in the series.

VIRGINIA TECH 3, VIRGINIA 2

Tech opened up the scoring in the top of the second on sophomore Taylor Clark’s RBI double that brought home freshman Sammi Miller from second base. Senior Carolina Schoenewald made it 2-0 with a double of her own to the left center field gap that plated Clark.

UVA got both runs back in the home half of the second but Eberle struck out four of the next six Cavaliers she faced in the third and fourth innings that kept the score at 2-2.

After Eberle retired the side again in the bottom of the fifth, freshman Cana Davis led off the sixth with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Clark. Next, Mehr drove a ball to the opposite field that advanced Davis to third. The throw back in from the right fielder that went to the cut off got away though and Davis took advantage, scoring the go-ahead run to make it 3-2.

Eberle continued her dominance by retiring the final six ‘Hoos that stepped into the batter’s box. Overall, after allowing the game-tying RBI single in the second inning, Eberle sat down 13 in a row to close out the game.

VIRGINA TECH 9, VIRIGNIA 4

With the Hokies trailing 2-0 entering the top of the fourth in the first game, Davis led off the inning with her first career triple off the wall in right field. Clark followed with a walk that made it runners on the corners and no one out. Mehr then stepped to the plate and lifted the second pitch she saw in the at-bat over the left field fence that put Tech out in front, 3-2.

Back-to-back singles from Schoenewald and junior Olivia Lattin put two runners on and a walk from Clark loaded the bases. With one out, junior Sierra Walton worked an eight pitch at bat that ended in a walk and allowed Schoenewald to score to make it 4-2 Tech.

The ‘Hoos tied the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth but Tech retook the lead on an RBI single from junior Caitlyn Nolan in the sixth that made it 5-4. After a shutdown inning from Dail, the Hokies broke the game open on a grand slam from Lattin that extended the Hokies’ lead to 9-4.

It was all Dail needed as she worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning that nailed down the series clincher.

Tech will next travel to Lynchburg on Tuesday for a midweek game with Liberty at 6 p.m.

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