LIVE UPDATES - Virginia Tech Softball vs. Akron, NCAA Regional (Saturday)
Now sitting in the elimination bracket after an 8-0 shutout at the hands of LSU, Virginia Tech softball takes on Akron in a bid to rematch the Tigers in the Baton Rouge Regional. Read below for a game thread, organized in reverse chronological order.
FINAL | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
An improbable victory. The Hokies just became the fifth team ever to rally back from a four-run-plus deficit entering the seventh. Virginia Tech was 3-for-21 entering T7. Then, it went 7-for-10 in T7. The Hokies will rematch No. 16 LSU tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET. They need to win twice to make it to Super Regionals, while LSU needs to win just once.
B7 | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
Haley Glass struck out swinging on a 1-2 count. Layton's fifth straight K. One out away.
B7 | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
Avery Layton stays in the circle for B7. Three outs separate the Hokies from a regional final that seemed improbable a frame ago.
M7 | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
The frame (finally) ends on a Rachel Castine flyout. Jamrog was pushed into three straight three-ball counts to close the frame, though she stranded loaded bases. If the Hokies hold Akron scoreless in B7, they'll rematch LSU tomorrow.
T7 | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
Virginia Tech entered this frame in a five-run hole. It has now juiced the bases with two outs and taken the lead. Six-run, seven-hit frame, and it's still not over.
T7 | Virginia Tech 7, Akron 6
Seven straight hits. Six unanswered runs. Latest one was a two-RBI double from Addison Foster.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 5
Holy guacamole, man. Annika Rohs singled through the left side, scoring pinch runner Jordan Bishop. One-run deficit.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 4
First off: The challenge was denied.
Second off: Gaby Mizelle punched a single up the middle, scoring Castine. Two-run deficit with no outs for the #Hokies. Annika Rohs steps up to the dish as the potential go-ahead run.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 3
Oh my god. What a near-catch from Meagan Lee out at center. She nearly had that. Resulted in a single for Zoe Yaeger, though Akron is challenging Castine being safe at second base.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 3
Back-to-back-to-back hits for the Hokies. Their slumbering offense has woken up, and if Zoe Yaeger gets on base to move Castine to second, Gaby Mizelle pulls up as the potential game-tying run.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 3
Holy moly. Michelle Chatfield just pulled a two-run jack to score Kylie Aldridge (who doubled). It's a three-run game. Just like that.
T7 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Here we go. The potential last frame of the Hokies' 2026 season. They need five runs to keep this season going. Virginia Tech is 5-for-41 today.
E6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Three straight K's. Avery. Layton. All those K's were swinging. Virginia Tech has three outs to save its season. Kylie Aldridge, Michelle Chatfield and Rachel Castine are due up for the #Hokies.
B6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Critical. Layton caught Lily Sullivan swinging. Did so on a full count, no less. She is one out away from escaping a bases-loaded jam that she encountered with zero outs.
B6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Layton downs Wygast with a 1-2 strikeout swinging. Two outs to go. Potential winning run stands on first.
B6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Meagan Lee drew a five-pitch walk. Then, a passed ball advanced her to second and Brooke Sivek to third. Sophia Wygast, the potential game-ending run, is at the plate with no outs.
B6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Leadoff full-count single for Akron. Just keeps going. That's the Zips' fifth hit in the last 2.1 frames.
B6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Avery Layton will man the circle for B6. Bree Carrico's line: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2R (both earned), 1 BB, 2K.
M6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
1-2-3 inning in just nine pitches from Jamrog. She sits at 72 pitches through six. Virginia Tech has three outs left with which to tally at least five runs to keep its season going.
T6 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Four outs left. Madie Jamrog's been clinical today. Through 5.2 frames, she's yielded three hits and a run. Forty-four of her 68 pitches have been deemed hits. She's also held VT's one-through-five batters hitless.
B5 | Akron 6, Virginia Tech 1
Challenge denied. Virginia Tech's deficit now stands at five. Just a note: Akron is in its first-ever NCAA Tournament, and its first-ever run in the tourney came on the solo shot vs. South Alabama earlier today.
B5 | Akron 6*, Virginia Tech 1
Cataclysmic. Lyla Blackwell appeared to corral a deep fly ball. The collision with the ground jolted it out of her mitt, and that plated two off the Haley Glass double. Virginia Tech is challenging on the initial ruling (no catch), saying transfer.
B5 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
Carrico yielded a four-pitch walk to Katie Cantrell. Runners on first and second with one out.
M5 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
Make that six outs. Virginia Tech has totaled three hits in this one as we enter B5.
T5 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
Zoe Yaeger popped up, and Gaby Mizelle flew out soon after. The Hokies have seven outs to total three runs, or their season's done.
T5 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
The Hokies produced a leadoff single from second baseman Rachel Castine. First leadoff baserunner of the game today for VT.
E4 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
Carrico struck Delaney Jenkinson out looking. Akron plated four runs in the frame, though, and Virginia Tech enters the fifth with a three-run deficit to make up.
B4 | Akron 4, Virginia Tech 1
They changed it to an umpire-initiated review. And they confirmed that it's a dead ball. Scored two. It's 4-1, Akron.
B4 | Akron 5*, Virginia Tech 1
Three* runs scored. On the throw to first, Chatfield couldn't corral it, and it went into the dugout. At the moment, it's a three-run blow, but VT is challenging for a dead ball.
B4 | Akron 2, Virginia Tech 1
Not a deep fly ball there. Morgan Sizemore flew out to right. Bases are still loaded, but the Hokies have tabbed two outs.
B4 | Virginia Tech 1, Akron 1
We're tied. Haley Glass singled into the right-field gap for her first hit this regional.
B4 | Virginia Tech 1, Akron 0
Akron's Kylie Bailey reached on a fielding error after Mazzarone conceded two fourth-frame walks. The bases are loaded with one out.
T3 | Virginia Tech 1, Akron 0
The Hokies scored their first run of the day off an Addison Foster grounder. Up by a run over the Zips.
T3 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
Runners at the corners via consecutive singles. The Hokies are threatening to score.
E2 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
The inning ended on a Kylie Bailey grounder. Through two, we're scoreless. #Hokies
B2 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
Virginia Tech counters with a 6-4-3 double play. That's the second double play they've turned today.
M2 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
Another 1-2-3 frame. Jamrog's tossed 23 pitches through two innings of work.
E1 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
Akron produced a leadoff single, but center fielder Meagan Lee was out on a steal attempt for second. The Hokies hold even entering T2.
M1 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
1-2-3. Akron starting arm Madie Jamrog set down the side in 12 pitches.
T1 | Virginia Tech 0, Akron 0
The Hokies start with a pop-up and flyout to begin the elimination game. One of these teams will be eliminated tonight.
Pre-Game
The Hokies' starting lineup for its clash vs. Akron is as follows:
- Addison Foster - Center Fielder
- Jordan Lynch - Third Baseman
- Nora Abromavage - Left Fielder
- Kylie Aldridge - Designated Player
- Michelle Chatfield - First Baseman
- Rachel Castine - Second Baseman
- Zoe Yaeger - Catcher
- Gaby Mizelle - Right Fielder
- Annika Rohs - Shortstop
Starting Pitcher: LHP Emma Mazzarone
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Hughes serves as Virginia Tech On SI's lead editor, a position he has held since July 2025. He is a sophomore at Virginia Tech, majoring in multimedia journalism with a minor in creative writing. Hughes is also the assistant editor-in-chief for 3304 Sports, as well as an on-air talent for 3304's SportsCenter-style studio show. He is also a staff writer for Steering Wheel Nation, having written pieces on several motorsport series, including Formula 1 and the NTT IndyCar Series.
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