For some reason, No. 15 Virginia Tech softball couldn’t hit against Syracuse, dropping the series after its 6-2 loss on Sunday.
Like on Friday, Orange (25-21, 7-14 ACC) pitcher Lindsey Hendrix shut down the Hokies (38-11-1, 18-6 ACC). In seven innings, she allowed just four hits and two runs.
Syracuse jumped on Hokies starter Cassie Grizzard in the first inning when first baseman Madison Knight hit a two-run homer. Lyndsey Grein relieved Grizzard in the second and kept the Orange’s bats silent until the fifth, when a throwing error from Tech third baseman Bre Peck scored a run. Two batters later, pinch hitter Vanessa Flores singled in Knight.
Tech’s bats were silent until the sixth. Entering the frame, it had amassed just one hit, until second baseman Cameron Fagan singled with two outs to score left fielder Addy Greene.
Then came a 50-minute rain delay with the Hokies trailing 4-1. Immediately after the break ended, right fielder Cori McMillan singled in Fagan. All of a sudden, the deficit was down to two and the game was within reach.
But in the bottom of the sixth, the Orange pulled away. A single from center fielder Angel Jasso and a sacrifice fly from designated player Taylor Posner tacked on two insurance runs, and the Hokies dropped their second game in three days.
Grizzard, Grein and Emma Lemley saw time in the circle for Tech. Grizzard allowed two hits and two runs in his one inning of work. Grein picked up the loss in four innings of relief, allowing two runs and three hits; she struck out five drums and walked four. Lemley came in after the rain delay and surrendered two runs and two hits.
As they did at many points throughout the weekend, the Hokies’ offense looked confused against Hendrix. Across Friday and Sunday, Hendrix threw 14 innings — amassing 201 pitches — and surrendered just three runs.
Knight, who pitched a complete game on Saturday, led the Orange with two RBI and scored two runs. Jasso hit 2-for-4, including a scored run of her own.
No Tech player totaled more than one hit, although first baseman Michelle Chatfield walked twice. Fagan, McMillan, Peck and designated player Teagan Thrunk were the only Hokies to finish Sunday with a hit.
Situational hitting made much of the difference on Sunday. Yes, the Orange reached base more, but when the Hokies had scoring opportunities, they didn’t execute. They hit 3-for-13 with runners on base, including 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Virginia Tech finished its regular season conference schedule with an 18-6 record; its only blemishes were a sweep at Duke, one loss at NC State and two losses at Syracuse. Regardless, stumbling through the end of the conference schedule does not help its case to host a regional at Tech Softball Park as one of the top-16 teams in the country.
Although the conference portion of the regular season has elapsed, the Hokies will travel to Lynchburg to play Liberty on Wednesday at 6 pm ET.
Box Score: Syracuse 6, No. 15 Virginia Tech 2
