Hokies Sweep Series with Virginia
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BLACKSBURG, Va. The Virginia softball team (12-27, 4-8 ACC) was swept by No. 21 Virginia Tech (27-10, 9-2 ACC) in a weekend series that closed with a doubleheader Sunday at the Tech Softball Park. The Hokies took the first game 3-0 and won the second 7-1. Virginia third-year Carly Winger hit a solo home run in the second game.
Game one went scoreless through three innings until the bottom of the fourth when Virginia Tech scored because of two Virginia errors in the inning. VT’s Misty Hall, who had reached on an error, came across home plate on a missed suicide squeeze opportunity when UVa catcher Alison Pittman’s throw was off on the pickoff attempt.
The Hokies picked up another run in the fifth. With one out, Erin Ota tripled to right and then scored on a sacrifice fly to deep center from teammate Charisse Mariconda. Tech added its third run in the sixth when Jessica Everhart led off the inning with a solo homer to center.
Hokie All-American Anglea Tincher threw her second straight one-hit game. Tincher went six innings and strikeout 15 of the 20 Cavaliers she faced. Heather Lowry came on to pitch the seventh, earning her first save of the season. Fifth-year Meghan O’Leary tallied the lone hit in game one for the Cavaliers.
Virginia’s Karla Wilburn took the loss in the circle, pitching a complete game and allowing three runs on seven hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Virginia Tech was up early in game two, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Mariconda belted a two-run shot to left, her third of the year.
The Cavaliers responded in the second when Winger, the first batter in the inning, blasted her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to left center.
Virginia left the bases loaded in the third, missing on another scoring opportunity. First-year Jennifer Bowles, who made her first career start as the designated hitter, also notched her first career hit with a single to left center. Haller walked and Winger reached on an error to fill the bases. At that time, Tincher came in on relief for starter Kenzie Roark and was able to get out of the jam and hold a 2-1 lead.
The Hokies went up 3-1 in the fourth. In the fifth, Virginia Tech added three more runs on four hits in the inning, including two singles and two doubles. Tech put up another insurance run in the sixth.
Tech outhit Virginia 11-4 in the second game. Tincher earned the win, throwing 4 2/3 innings and fanning 11 batters. Kierstie Cameron and Abby Snyder also recorded hits for Virginia.
Foruth-year Whitney Holstun took the loss for Virginia and had two strikeouts. Teammate Allee Rife came on in relief.
Virginia returns to action with a doubleheader at Liberty Wednesday.