Virginia Tech Softball: Hokies finish season ranked 14/13
The success keeps coming for the Virginia Tech softball team. The Hokies finished the season with the second-highest ranking in program history at No. 14 in the USA Today/ NFCA Coaches Poll and No. 13 in ESPN’s/ USA Softball Polls.
The Hokies finished the season with a 37-15 overall record and a 23-11 ACC record. They capped a great season with a run to the NCAA Super Regionals for just the second time in program history. At the NCAA Super Regionals, they forced a three-game series against the UCLA Bruins, who was the second-ranked team in the country at the time.
The Hokies pitcher Keely Rochard racked up the accolades this season. She was named an NFCA First-Team All-American, ACC Pitcher of the Year, NFCA All Mid-Atlantic First-Team, and JWOS First-Team All-American. She appeared in 41 games, starting 38 of them for the Hokies. She finished with 13 shutouts, which tied for third-best in the country. Her 348 strikeouts are just one, behind Montana Fouts of the Alabama Crimson Tide, for best in the country. Rochard will be back in Blacksburg for her senior year and could very well be the best pitcher in the country.
Offensively, the Hokies were impressive as four players accounted for a batting average of .300. Kelsey Bennett led the team with 13 home runs on the season. As a team, they hit 60 home runs in their 52 overall games. They finished the season outscoring their opponents 286-103.
The majority of the team will be returning for next season, so watch out for the Virginia Tech softball team.