Softball Overwhelmed and Overpowered Against Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, V.A. – All you needed to see was the number one on a pair of line scores to figure out it wasn’t a good day for Syracuse Softball.
The Orange were walloped, embarrassed, and shook to the core after two ugly performances that saw the Orange get outscored 21-2. Game one of the twin bills ended after the mercy rule called things off after five.
Ariana Adams got the start and pitched well in the first couple of innings. The veteran righty had been trending up after three stellar relief appearances in Raleigh.
Unfortunately for the Texas native, the upwards trend stopped and made a U-turn in the third inning. After giving up a run in the second, Adams and Clark proceeded to give up 10 in the third frame.
Eight consecutive hitters got on base before Doepking said enough was enough and decided to bring in Summer Clark. After calming things down by retiring the first two hitters, the struggling freshman walked the bases loaded and gave up a grand slam to the next batter.
The game was long over before that, but the homer sealed Syracuse’s fate.
Jolie Gustave made her 2022 debut and surrendered three hits and another earned run during the six batters she faced in the fifth.
Meanwhile, the hitting was nonexistent throughout. After a wild pitch scored Angel Jasso, S.U. was shutout and embarrassed by a couple of Hokie hurlers.
All-American Keely Rochard struck out seven through three and only allowed a couple of scattered knocks.
‘Cuse finished the first battle with one run, three singles, three walks, and 10 strikeouts.
The second leg of the doubleheader was more of the same if not even worse.
Lindsey Hendrix got the nod and immediately caused onlookers to shake their heads after she let in 3 Virginia Tech runs over three-plus innings of work. Kelly Breen got things to 3-1 with her fourth-inning RBI double to left, but that’s as close as things would get.
Kaia Oliver was roughed up to the tune of three runs, two of them earned to put the dagger once again through a demoralized team.
Freshman Hokie Emma Lemley was lights out all night long as she tossed a complete game with 16 strikeouts and just one walk. If you’re doing the math at home, you’d know she struck out 60% of the batters she faced. Outside of Breen’s two hits, Casares-Maher and Taylor Posner were the only other players to get aboard.
Game two didn’t end in the mercy, but an 8-1 defeat doesn’t make things better. Overall, ‘Cuse hitters mustered two runs, seven hits, 26 strikeouts, and four walks.
S.U. gets the day off Saturday before the series finale kicks off on Selection Sunday. First pitch is set for noon at Tech Softball Park.
