LIVE UPDATES - No. 15 Virginia Tech Softball vs. Duke, ACC Tournament Semifinals

No. 15 Virginia Tech softball took down Duke, 5-0. Read below for a game thread, organized in reverse chronological order.
FINAL | Virginia Tech 5, Duke 0
Virginia Tech shut out the Blue Devils. The Hokies are in the ACC title game for the first time in 14 years. They'll play Florida State tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET.
B7 | Virginia Tech 5, Duke 0
Vega reached on a fielding error after being worked to an 0-2 count; Jessica Oakland then singled up the middle. Runners on first and second for Duke.
B7 | Virginia Tech 5, Duke 0
One out away. Jennings followed suit
B7 | Virginia Tech 5, Duke 0
One away. Mazzarone struck out Adelyn Matthews. The Hokies are two outs away from the title game.
T7 | Virginia Tech 5, Duke 0
Duke is turning to a new arm: Larissa Jacquez (4.51 ERA in 66.2 IP, 5-5 record).
T7 | Virginia Tech 3, Duke 0
Jordan Lynch drilled a stand-up double that took a couple of bounces before knocking off the right-center wall.
E6 | Virginia Tech 3, Duke 0
Mazzarone found the frame's third out via a pop-up after conceding a walk to juice the bases. The Hokies escaped trouble again.
B6 | Virginia Tech 3, Duke 0
Duke's Tyrina Jones pushed a one-out single through the left side of the infield on a 2-0 count — that's the first hit on Carrico since the bottom of the first.
M6 | Virginia Tech 3, Duke 0
Beyond Castine's homer to open the sixth, Virginia Tech went down quickly. Following a four-pitch walk from Yaeger, Mizelle flew out, Annika Rohs grounded out and Foster fouled out to the first-base side. #Hokies
T6 | Virginia Tech 3, Duke 0
Another solo homer. This one is from Rachel Castine. The Hokies lead by three. Carrico has been elite in the circle — in the fifth, she didn't allow a baserunner for the second frame today — and Virginia Tech has produced enough explosive knocks so far.
E5 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Foster grabbed the third out, too. The sHokies are potentially six outs away from advancing to the ACC Tournament title game to play Florida State.
B5 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Foster dashed to snag the first out of the fifth for the #Hokies. Mizelle was then in the optimal position to grab the second.
M5 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Kylie Aldridge skied one to deep center, but Duke was there for it. The Hokies' only hit in the frame was a leadoff single from Foster.
E4 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Carrico conceded a two-out hit-by-pitch to Blue Devils catcher Gabriella Shadek, but that was the only baserunner Duke tabbed in the fourth. The Blue Devils are 0-for-7 with runners on base, 0-for-3 with RiSP and 0-for-5 with two outs.
B4 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Lyla Blackwell is in at left field for Abromavage. The Hokies have two outs in B4 via a grounder and a flyout.
M4 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Gaby Mizelle pushed a two-out single to the circle, but Virginia Tech didn't do any damage beyond that. Carrico's held Duke hitless since the first, though.
E3 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Carrico escaped the jam by tossing three straight strikes. Wow.
B3 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Carrico plunked Oakland to load the bases with two outs.
B3 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
D'Auna Jennings skied a deep one that was swirling around, but Abromavage was under it. The Hokies are still up, 2-0; they've found two outs this frame so far.
M3 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Virginia Tech designated player Kylie Aldridge struck out looking, then Duke turned a 6-3 double play that retired both Abromavage and Chatfield.
E2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Make that 29. Carrico has yielded one hit while striking out three of the seven batters she's faced.
B2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Carrico froze Duke right fielder for strike three, then fanned out Mathis. Through 1 2/3 frames, she's tossed 24 pitches.
M2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
After Abromavage's solo jack, Virginia Tech placed runners at the corners, but Foster struck out on a 2-2 count to strand both.
T2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Still runners on first and second, after Mizelle reached on a fielder's choice.
T2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
So, KK Mathis was in the circle for the first frame and Abromavage's jack. Curd, who was listed as the starter but did not do so, is now in.
T2 | Virginia Tech 2, Duke 0
Wow. Nora Abromavage just blasted one to the right-center grandstands. The Hokies now lead by two.
E1 | Virginia Tech 1, Duke 0
Jennings was left aboard on third as a result of a two-out fly ball that Abromavage caught. The Hokies are up one heading into the second inning.
B1 | Virginia Tech 1, Duke 0
The Hokies produced a 6-3 play on a grounder to find their second out. Carrico has thrown five strikes on nine pitches so far.
B1 | Virginia Tech 1, Duke 0
Aminah Vega fouled out, but D'Auna Jennings, who produced a leadoff single, advanced to second. The Hokies have one out.
M1 | Virginia Tech 1, Duke 0
Kylie Aldridge popped up to end the frame. Bree Carrico is now in the circle for the Hokies.
T1 | Virginia Tech 1, Duke 0
Michelle Chatfield just cranked one into the grandstands in left-center. That solo shot gives the Hokies a one-run lead.
T1 | Virginia Tech 0, Duke 0
Routine grounder to second for Lynch. Two away for the Hokies, who have not tabbed a hit against Curd yet.
T1 | Virginia Tech 0, Duke 0
Foster flew out on said 3-1 pitch. Jordan Lynch up to the plate.
T1 | Virginia Tech 0, Duke 0
Duke pitcher KK Mathis is up to a 3-1 count against Virginia Tech center fielder Addison Foster; we're underway at Palmer Park.
Pre-Game
The Hokies' starting lineup is as follows:
- Addison Foster - Center Fielder
- Jordan Lynch - Third Baseman
- Michelle Chatfield - First Baseman
- Kylie Aldridge - Designated Player
- Nora Abromavage - Left Fielder
- Rachel Castine - Second Baseman
- Zoe Yaeger - Catcher
- Gaby Mizelle - Right Fielder
- Annika Rohs - Shortstop
Starting Pitcher: RHP Bree Carrico

Hughes serves as Virginia Tech On SI's lead editor, a position that he has held since July 2025. Hughes is a junior at Virginia Tech majoring in sports media and analytics. He also serves as the open-wheel correspondent for the motorsports outlet Steering Wheel Nation, where he has written on Formula 1, the NTT IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Hughes has previously authored bylines in 3304 Sports, Virginia Tech's multimedia student journalism outlet.
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