April 9, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Virginia Tech softball team split a pair of games with the University of North Carolina Saturday afternoon at the UNC Softball Complex. In the opener, the Hokies battled back for a 2-1 win, before getting rolled in the second game, 11-1 in five innings.

In the opener, the Tar Heels struck first with a run in the second off the bat of Jen Jacobs, driving in Whitney Gelin. Tech took the lead in the fifth inning on an error by UNC. Theresa Walsh doubled to the gap and moved to third on Alisia Narodowski single to the gap. On the throw to third, Narodowski took second. With two out, Megan Evans lined a shot to left field and Marissa May misplayed the ball, dropping it and allowing two runs to score.

That would be the only runs scored, but it would be enough for Angela Tincher, who was once again brilliant in the circle. The freshman allowed just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out 11 to run her record to 17-4 on the season. She now has 262 strikeouts on the season, placing her just 29 away from breaking the school single-season mark set by Ashlee Dobbe in 2002.

At the plate, Narodowski and Caitlin Murphy each had two hits to lead the way. Stephanie Savre and Walsh had Tech's other two hits.

In the second game, Katie Maynard walked four in the first inning, including two with the bases loaded, then allowed a single to plate two more runs, making it 4-0. She was pulled with just one out in the inning after throwing 39 pitches, just 14 for strikes. Megan Stone was inserted and gave up a single and a walk before Karie Morrison gave up a single and a walk. She eventually got a pair of ground outs to get out of the stanza. For the inning, the Tar Heels scored seven runs on four hits, drawing six walks and sending 13 batters to the plate.

Tech got on the board in the third inning, loading the bases with just one out. Kathleen Jones singled to center to drive in Walsh, who reached on a single to lead off the inning, but Sarah Prosise grounded out to end the threat, leaving the score 7-1.

UNC loaded the bases in the third and plated four on Casey Testa's grand slam off Morrison. That chased Morrison and Tech head coach Scot Thomas brought Maynard back in, who got a pop up to end the inning.

At the plate, Narodowski again had two hits to lead the way. Walsh and Jones had Tech's other two hits.

Maynard (L, 12-7) lasted just 1/3 of an inning before being re-inserted. Stone threw to three batters, but did not record an out. She allowed one run on a hit and a walk. Morrison went 2.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks. Maynard finished the game by going 1.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on two hits and four walks while striking out one.

Tech (33-12, 2-6 ACC) and UNC (26-21, 3-5 ACC) conclude the three-game series Sunday with a single game to determine the series winner starting at 2 p.m.