Softball Recap

The Virginia Tech Softball team went 3-2 on the weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.  After splitting their games the first day, the Hokies went on to win two big games Saturday to be placed in the gold bracket on Sunday.

The Hokes started out on Friday with a game against Costal Carolina, which they lost 5-1.  Costal took an early 2-0 lead in the second when pitcher Heather Lowry gave up a two run homerun.  Tech loaded the bases several times in the first few innings, but was unable to score until the forth.  Costal responded and loaded the bases several more times and scored three more runs off of several hits to seal the game. 

Tech’s second game of the day was a different story as they topped Lehigh 4-0.  The Hokies got off to an early lead when Callie Rhodes scored off of an Erin Ota single and then again in the second when Caroline Stolle hit her fourth homerun of the season.  Stolle blasted another two-run homer to give the Hokies the 4-0 lead.  On the mound, Angela Tincher went the distance and struck out 16 batters and pitched her first perfect game.

Saturday, the Hokies were faced with having to win both of their games in order to advance to the gold bracket.  The team’s first game was against a tough 18th-ranked Georgia Team.  The Hokies jumped out to an early lead, scoring one in the first then loading the bases in the third where they scored three more to make the score 4-0.  Tincher faced a tough Bulldog lineup that had seven players with batting averages over .300; however she managed to keep them contained as she gave up only three hits and struck out twelve and went on to get the 4-0 win.

The Hokies second game of the day was against Illinois State where after pitching 100 pitches against Georgia, Tincher had yet another stellar performance.  Tincher gave up only one run off of two hits, walked four and struck out 13.  Tech yet again got off to an early lead when Ota scored off of a single from Stephanie Savre in the first.  The Hokies loaded the bases in the third and were able to get two more runs, making the score 3-0.  Illinois State finally managed to score one in the fifth, but were held to just the one run as the Hokies got the 3-1 win and the advance to the gold bracket.

Sunday morning, Tech took on a tough No. 13 ranked Michigan team, where one run proved the difference in the game.  The Hokies got two hits but never moved any runners past second base.  Tincher pitched a well game in which she gave up only three hits, one run, and struck out 13.  However one pitch in the fourth made the difference when Michigan’s Samantha Findlay put one over the fence to get the 1-0 lead and eventually the win.

The Hokies were suppose to play a consolation game after their loss to Michigan, but rains the night before pushed the start time of the Michigan game back and the second game was cancelled due to travel constraints. 

The Hokies will travel to Radford on Wednesday to take on the Highlanders in a doubleheader.  The first game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.