Championship Page | Tickets | Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. (theACC.com) – No. 10 seed Virginia Tech scored a pair of early runs and never looked back as Hokies topped No. 7 seed Duke, 4-0, in the first round of the 2018 ACC Softball Championship at Georgia Tech’s Mewborn Field.
The Hokies (23-29) advance to play No. 2 seed Pitt in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m.
Virginia Tech’s Olivia Lattin got the Hokies on the board first in the top of the second inning with her solo home run. After Caitlyn Nolan doubled, Taylor Clark drove in another run with a double of her own to extend Virginia Tech’s lead.
Caroline Schoenewald led off in the top the of the fifth inning and reached third on a dropped fly by Duke left fielder Jill Ferraro. With two outs, Sierra Walton singled to short for her second hit of the game, and first RBI, which gave Virginia Tech a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Devils (29-27) wouldn’t go away and put two on base in the bottom of the sixth as Haley Wymbs and Amelia Wiercioch both singled. Both were left on when Ferraro grounded out to end the inning.
The Hokies tacked on one more in the top of the seventh inning to add cushion to their lead.
Carla Eberle earned the shut-out win after the complete game. She recorded six strikeouts, while giving up just four hits and one walk.
ACC fans will be able to watch all nine games of the championship as Thursday’s and Friday’s contests will be televised by the league’s Regional Sports Networks, and Saturday’s title game will be carried live on ESPN.
Virginia Tech Quotes
Opening statement from Head Coach Scot Thomas:
"The biggest thing was we stayed with the process hitting wise. Carrie did a great job in the circle, we played behind her, we got bunts down, it was a great team win. I'm really proud of the girls and I'm proud of their preparation."
"We're gonna look at some video of us against Pitt earlier this season and maybe some more things tonight and tomorrow. We're gonna go out and stay with the same routine."
Duke Quotes
Opening statement from Head Coach Marissa Young:
“I hope the message we left with the team was that it’s a motivating factor. It was a great ride to get here, but we have got to do some things better along the way so that we can be more successful. This time of year, it’s anyone’s ballgame. You can’t take anybody lightly, it doesn’t matter what success you have had against teams in the past, you have got to show up with your A-game.”
On what this season means to her:
“I am really proud of everybody that was a part of getting this program up off the ground and running. I think we have laid a really good foundation for what’s to come. We have learned a lot, and had a lot of ups and downs this season. I have seen a lot of tremendous growth, which I am excited about, and we are just going to continue to build on it and have a better year next year.”