Some teams have opened some eyes in non-conference play this softball season. One of those teams that is making some early-season statements is Virginia Tech.
After beginning the season with two wins over SEC opponents South Carolina, Georgia, and Auburn, Virginia Tech entered this weekend at 16-2 for the Hokie Invite in Salem, Virginia. There were going to be some tests with Big Ten foes Michigan and Penn State. As Pete DAmour's team has done all season long, they showed up and took care of business.
For the second time this season, Virginia Tech went 5-0 on the weekend after wins over Michigan, Penn State, James Madison, Radford, and Bryant. The 11th-ranked Hokies are not a staggering 19 games over .500 with an eye toward ACC play beginning next weekend on the road at Duke.
Virginia Tech softball has another perfect weekend on the diamond
The Hokies began the weekend on Thursday night with a 5-3 win over Michigan before they beat James Madison, 7-0, on Friday night behind home runs from Gaby Mizelle and Michelle Chatfield.
Maybe the best win over the weekend happened against Penn State. After spotting the Nittany Lions three runs in the top of the first, Virginia Tech responded with three in the home half, highlighted by a Jordan Lynch two-run home run. Penn State led 6-5 going into the bottom of the fifth, but a home run from Zoe Yeager in the fifth and Rachel Castine in the sixth was the difference in the one-run victory.
After a win over Radford on Saturday night, the Hokies closed out the weekend with a run-rule win over Bryant. Virginia Tech had a five-run inning in the second and fifth innings, sandwiched around one run in the third for the win. Jordan Bishop had two home runs for the Hokies, while Lynch and Emma Mazzarone each had one.
The Hokies will visit Elon on Wednesday night for a non-conference game before opening ACC play in Durham against Duke next weekend.