AUBURN, Ala. — The 23rd-ranked Virginia Tech softball team opened its season Friday by defeating Illinois, 18-1 in five innings, and No. 20 Auburn, 8-1 in eight innings.
Rachel Castin completed a grand slam in each match.
Michelle Chatfield had two hits, including a two-run homer, against Illinois.
Tech and Auburn were tied at one point after seven innings, but the Hokies scored seven runs in the top of the eighth. Lindsey Grein pitched an eight-hit complete game, with 12 strikeouts and one walk. Emily Leggett had two hits, including a solo home run.
soft ball
Radford wins 2
Radford opened the season Friday by defeating the University of Massachusetts 10-2 in Statesboro, Ga., and then defeated Merrimack 8-0 in five games.
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Morgan Cooper pitched three batters and had seven strikeouts and one walk in the win over UMass. Abby Wilson (Auburn High School) had four hits and four RBIs.
Abby Peace pitched a one-hit shutout in the second game with four strikeouts and one walk. Rachel Smith hit two home runs.
UVa wins twice
Virginia opened the season Friday by defeating UNC Greensboro, 6-5, and Jacksonville State, 7-3, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Abby Weaver (Cave Spring) hit a scoring sacrifice fly in the first game and had two hits and three RBIs in the second game.
wrestling
12th place Roanoke wins ODAC title
Roanoke (13-6, 6-0) defeated Averett 22-12 on Thursday night in Danville to win the ODAC regular season title.
Mac Caffrero, Jude Robson, Mark Samuel, Andrew McDougall, Jacob Cherry and Lorenzo Perrott won for the Maroons.
Ferrum 39, Greensboro 11
The Panthers (6-4, 3-2 ODAC) defeated the visiting Pride (1-10, 1-4) on Thursday night.
Adrian Samano, Zach Beckner, Joseph Olalde, Tyler Ramirez, Mateo Villalobos, Franklin Melton and Rayshawn Dixon won for Ferrum.
women's basketball
UVa 73, Boston College 66
Jonta Bourne, who hadn't played since Jan. 18 due to injury, scored 16 points Thursday to outscore the host Eagles (11-14, 3-9) and the Cavaliers (11-12, 3-0). (9 losses, ACC).
BC led 58-56 with 7:48 left, but UVa responded with a 9-0 run to take a 65-58 lead.
Parris Clark added 14 points and Edessa Noyan added 13 points for UVa.
This was Amaka Agugua Hamiton's 100th career win.
men's basketball
Chattanooga 88, VMI 84
Former Keydette Honor Huff had 22 points and six 3-pointers on Thursday, leading the Mox (16-8, 8-3 Saucon) to Lexington at Keydets (4-20, 1-10) exceeded.
Trailing 67-56, VMI went on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 67 with 9 minutes, 25 seconds left.
Trailing 80-77 with 1:56 left, the Mox hit three consecutive 3-pointers to take an 86-80 lead with 29 seconds left.
Former VMI and Florida State guard Trey Bonham had 15 points and 11 assists for the Mox.
VMI's Tyrann Cook scored 28 points and made 6 of 6 3-pointers. Stephen Olowoni added 15 points. Teshaud Jackson II had 13 points.
