Virginia Tech Downs UVa 4-0 in First Game of Series
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia softball team (12-25, 4-6 ACC) was downed by 21st-ranked Virginia Tech 4-0 Saturday in the first of a three-game series at the Tech Softball Park. The two teams were originally supposed to play a doubleheader, but the second game was moved to Sunday because of expected inclement weather in the area. The series will close with a doubleheader beginning at noon Sunday.
Cavalier third-year Carly Winger broke up Tech pitcher Angela Tincher’s no-hitter in the top of the seventh with a single up the middle. It was the lone hit for the Orange and Blue.
The Hokies scored their four runs on nine hits. Tincher threw the complete game shutout with 14 strikeouts, two hit batters and no walks.
Virginia’s Karla Wilburn got the loss after throwing the first inning and allowing one run on two hits. Whitney Holstun came on in relief to throw five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Both Cavalier pitchers recorded a strikeout.
Virginia Tech got on the board in the bottom of the first to take a quick 1-0 lead. With one out, Erin Ota belted a double down the right field line. A ground out to second baseman Kierstie Cameron moved Ota over to third and she came across to score when the next batter, Kelsey Hoffman, singled to right center.
The Hokies added two more in the third off hits from the first three batters. Ota led off the inning with a single up the middle and scored when the next batter, Charisse Mariconda, tripled to right. Sarah Tacke made a great diving effort for the ball, but was unable to come down with it. Mariconda came across home plate when Hoffman singled to left.
Tech put up another run in the fourth. With one down, Whitney Davis reached on an infield single to second. Another single from Jenna Rhodes to center put two runners on and UVa center fielder Meghan O’Leary bobbled to ball which advanced Davis to third and Rhodes to second. A flyout to left gave Virginia two outs in the inning, but the next batter, Mariconda, ripped an infield hit back to Holstun that allowed Davis to score.