May 20, 2006

Box Score

#3 Louisville 10, #2 Hokies 1 (5 Inn.)

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Virginia Tech softball team saw its season end Saturday night with a 10-1 loss in five innings to third-seeded and 19^th-ranked Louisville in a NCAA Regional elimination game at Tyson Park. Tech struck early, but was done in by Louisville's bats jumping all over Tech starter Katie Maynard.

After Friday's 12-inning marathon, the Hokies jumped on the scoreboard early this time. In the top of the first inning, Callie Rhodes reached on an infield single and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Erin Ota. Freshman Jessica Everhart proceeded to drive her in with a double to deep center field.

But it was Everhart who cost the Hokies a run in the bottom of the first inning. With two out in the inning, Everhart dropped a fly ball hit by Courtney Moore and Moore was driven in by a Lacy Wood triple to the gap to tie the game.

In the second, the Cards took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Kristi Cunningham. Maynard gave up two singles before the sac fly was hit to account for that run. Maynard then gave up consecutive walks to load the bases, and then Moore singled through the left side to make it 4-1. Maynard continued to struggle as she then gave up another single up to left to score a run and a single up the middle to plate two more runs and make it 7-1.

Tech then put in Angela Tincher to try and control the damage, but it was too late as Maynard's effort put the Hokies in a deep hole. Maynard (L, 13-11) ended her Tech career by going just 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out one.

The Cards put it out of reach in the fourth when Wood ripped a three-run home run off the scoreboard in left-center field to make it 10-1.

Tincher, pitching on a hurt leg, could go just 1.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out one. Karie Morrison pitched an inning, giving up a run on two hits.

At the plate, Tech got just four hits, coming from the bat of Rhodes, Everhart, Charisse Mariconda and Alisia Narodowski.

Tech finishes its season with a record of 39-21 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Eight of 10 starters - including four all-region picks - are scheduled to return as the Hokies started five freshmen and two sophomores for most of the second half of the season.