The tough part of the NCAA Tournament in softball on the first weekend in the Regionals is the second day. It's the first of two days where you could play multiple games in a day, and for Virginia Tech, that was the case on Saturday, on the second day of the Tuscaloosa Regional.
After beating Belmont, 5-0, on Friday in the opening game, the Hokies dropped a 4-3 decision early Saturday afternoon to drop into the loser's bracket with another matchup with the Bruins, who won an elimination game over Jackson State. Having to face Belmont ace Maya Johnson for a second straight day, the Hokies again proved that the NCAA strikeout leader would be no match for them.
The Hokies lived to see another day by smacking four home runs for the run-rule over the Bruins in six innings to advance to the Regional Final on Sunday against host Alabama. Virginia Tech will need to beat the Crimson Tide twice to advance to the Super Regional Memorial Day Weekend against the winner of the Oklahoma Regional.
Trinity Martin had a three-run home run for Virginia Tech, while Cori McMillan and Jordan Lynch each had two-run shots, and Emily LeGette added a solo shot. The Hokies finished with 10 hits and scored in four of the six innings, with the highest scoring inning coming in the sixth when they plated six for an 11-0 lead.
Sophie Kleiman went the first five-plus innings for the Hokies, allowing one run on three hits, four walks, and two strikeouts. Cassie Grizzard got the final three outs, saving Emma Lemley from having to come on and the final out or two to end the game in the sixth. They will need Lemley on Sunday to beat Alabama at least once to have a chance to get to the Super Regionals.