In the first extra innings game of the year for the Tide, No. 13 Alabama fell to No. 16 Virginia Tech by a score of 8-3 in eight innings on Saturday afternoon. The Tide offense was able to tie the game with 3 runs in the seventh, but the dominant Hokie offense came alive in extras.
Alabama now fall to 25-6 on the season and will look to build on the positives heading back into conference play.
“You have to focus on the good that happened today. I believe we showed that we are resilient and that we have some fight in us. We were able to battle back in that seventh inning and we were one pitch away from winning the game, we know how close we are,” senior Jenna Johnson said.
For Johnson, Saturday’s game marked her senior day. Johnson went 1-for-3 on the afternoon with a clutch walk in that big seventh inning as she eventually came around to score the tying run. Not only that, but this game marked number 200 for Jenna in an Alabama uniform.
“Wow, I actually didn’t even know that, so that is pretty cool. 200 games in this uniform is a blessing. I couldn’t thank enough people for helping me get to this point and I have loved every second of it,” said Johnson on hitting the 200 game mark.
The Hokies started the scoring in the top of the fourth with an absolute monster of a home run to left center off the bat of Cori McMillan. Virginia Tech possesses the sixth-best offense in the country, with a staggering 65 home runs so far this season. Tide starting pitcher Jocelyn Briski did a good job of limiting the damage early in the game. Her final line: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Virginia Tech got on the scoreboard again in the fifth inning off of recently entered Kayla Beaver with a run-scoring groundout by Bre Peck. The Hokies then struck again in the seventh with a sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 3.
Everything began to change for Alabama in the bottom of the seventh. Kendal Clark got the Rhoads crowd back into it with a lead-off triple. After a flyout by Kali Heivilin, Lauren Esman got the Tide on the board with a run-scoring single through the right side.
Kristen White was then called out on a close play at first, leaving the Tide down to their last out. Then, Jenna Johnson forced a two-out walk before Kenleigh Cahalan poked a bases-clearing triple to right center to tie up the game. However, Abby Duchscherer was unable to bring the tying run home, sending the game to extra innings. The Tide notched 3 runs on 3 hits in the inning.
The Hokies proved why they are one of the best offenses in the country with 5 runs on 5 hits in the eighth inning, sucking the wind out of the Alabama sails. First baseman Michelle Chatfield put the nail in the coffin with a 2-run shot to stretch the lead to 5.
Alabama showed little life in the bottom of the eighth, striking out twice to end the game.
NEXT: Alabama returns to conference play next weekend with a three-game series in Lexington against Kentucky. The first pitch for game one is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday evening.
