CONWAY, S.C. – On Friday, the Coastal Carolina (0-1) softball team dropped its opening game of the season by the score of 11-2 to the Virginia Tech Hokies as part of the opening day of the Residence Inn Kickin' Chicken Classic at St. John Stadium.
The Hokies added one or more runs in each of the final six innings, putting together 12 hits in the game, including two doubles and a home run. Hokie ace Kelly Rochard thwarted the young Chanticleer lineup as she earned a complete-game victory and allowing two runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts.
After Coastal Carolina starter Kaitlin Beasley-Polko held Virginia Tech scoreless in the top half of the first inning, Chant freshman Peyton Rivas and junior Taylor Sweigart reached on back-to-back singles in the bottom half of the first inning, but Rochard was able to get the next three Chants to end the early rally.
After scoring a run in the top of the second to make it 1-0, Hokies' right fielder Al Velasquez singled up the middle scoring leadoff hitter Darby Trull and Kelsey Brown in the third inning. Jayme Bailey made it a 4-0 score as she doubled down the left-field line, scoring Velasquez from first base.
Virginia Tech tacked on three more runs in total in the top half of the fourth and fifth innings to make it 7-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Chants broke through with their only two runs of the game. Three consecutive singles from newcomers Ally Clegg, Makiya Thomas, and Peyton Rivas loaded the bases for Sweigart and an RBI bunt single back to the pitcher. Next batter, junior Courtney Dean grounded to into a fielder's choice at third base, allowing pinch-runner Paige Rivas to score from third base, to make it 7-2.
Virginia Tech capped off the game with four more runs over the final two innings to pick up the victory to go to 2-0 on the season.
Kelsey Brown led the VT team with three hits, going 3-for-5 and two runs knocked in during the game. Grayson Gruce had a team-high three RBI, and Darby Trull and Olivia Lattin each had two hits.
Sweigart and Clegg led the Chants with two hits apiece of the team's seven in the loss.
Beasley-Polko takes the loss as she lasted four innings, giving up six hits and five earned runs.
CCU will be back on the field Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. as they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes and East Carolina Pirates at St. John Stadium on day two of the Residence Inn Kickin' Chicken Classic.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSB (twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
