Hokie ClubLYNCHBURG, Va. -- Senior Keely Rochard recorded her 1,000th career strikeout on Tuesday in the No. 2/3 Hokies 8-1 win over Liberty. She becomes the second player in school history to achieve the milestone.
Rochard came on in the sixth to relieve starter Emma Lemley. She struck out three, allowing one hit in her 2.0 innings pitched. She also received fourth save of the season.
Lemley (12-3) got the start and the win for the Hokies tossing five innings, giving up one run on two hits and walking three for Virginia Tech (30-5).
Sophomore Cameron Fagan led the way offensively for the Hokies, going 4-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and an RBI. Junior Kelsey Bennett put together a solid day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Senior Mackenzie Lawter also contributed, going 1-for-2 for Virginia Tech with a home run, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Junior Meredith Slaw drove in two runs for Virginia Tech with a single, that scored Fagan and senior Darby Trull.
The Flames failed to push any runs across before the Hokies offense scored again the next inning. Virginia Tech scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Bennett, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Hokies.
Liberty narrowed Virginia Tech's lead to 3-1 before the Hokies stretched the advantage to 4-1 in the sixth inning. The Hokies added a run on freshman Bre Peck's one-out solo home run off sophomore Karlie Keeney.
The Hokies left the yard three times in the top of the seventh inning on the way to scoring four runs, bringing the Virginia Tech advantage to 8-1. The score remained 8-1 for the rest of the game, as Rochard closed out the win.
GAME NOTES
» Fagan compiled four hits on the day for Virginia Tech.
» Lemley struck out 10Flames hitters.
» The Virginia Tech pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Liberty hitters.
» Virginia Tech took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Virginia Tech hitters hit four home runs in the ballgame.
» The Hokies out-hit the Flames at a 13-3 clip.
» Virginia Tech went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.g out 13.
» Fagan led the Hokies at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Liberty was led offensively by freshman Alexis Soto, who went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.