October 15, 2006

BLACKSBURG - Behind superb pitching and some timely hitting, the Virginia Tech softball team picked up a pair of wins Sunday to finish 4-0 for the weekend and win the Orange & Maroon Fall Ball Tournament. In the first game, the Hokies beat Chipola College 8-0 in six innings before pulling out a 2-1 win over James Madison in the final game.

In the opener, the Hokies rolled past Chipola, scoring eight runs on 10 hits in winning 8-0 in six innings. In the first, Callie Rhodes led off with an infield single and then stole second base before scoring on Erin Ota's triple to right field.

In the fifth, Tech put four runs on the board to make it 5-0. Kelsey Hoffman singled and was pinch run for by Jenna Rhodes. Rhodes scored from first base on Caroline Stolle's double down the line. Callie Rhodes then singled and stole second before Ota drove in both Stolle and Callie Rhodes with a single to center field. Ota later scored on Charisse Mariconda's sacrifice fly.

One inning later, Stolle picked up three more RBI with a deep home run to left field to drive in Dori Nunley, who reached on a single, and Hoffman, who also singled.

Freshman Heather Lowry picked up her third win of the fall, pitching a superb 5.0 innings. She allowed just one hit and struck out six, walking none. Karie Morrison pitched the final inning, giving up a hit and a walk.

At the plate, Stolle picked up two hits, scored two runs and drove in four to lead the way. Ota had two hits and three RBI while Mariconda also had an RBI. Callie Rhodes picked up two hits and two stolen bases while Hoffman also had two hits.

The second game marked the return of All-American Angela Tincher to the pitching circle. The junior has been recuperating from a leg injury she sustained last season and re-aggravated while pitching for the U.S. World University Games team in Taiwan. She was a little rusty early, but settled down nicely late in the game to shut down the Dukes.

JMU took a 1-0 lead in the first, stringing together a hit and a double off Tincher. But the Hokies battled back, scoring a run in the fourth inning to tie it up. Beth Walker singled and moved to second on Jessica Everhart's infield single and she moved to third base on a throwing error on the play. Kelsy Rokey's single to right field drove her in to tie it up.

The game remained tied until the sixth inning when junior Stephanie Savre lifted a high home run to right field. That would be all Tincher would need to help hold off the Dukes. She went the distance, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out 12. JMU tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, drawing a leadoff walk, but Tincher struck out the next three to shut the door.

At the plate, the speedy Destiny Covington picked up three infield singles and a stolen base to lead the way. Ota, Walker, Savre, Everhart and Rokey each had a hit.

Tech has wrapped up its fall schedule, going 5-0. Check back later in the week for a complete wrap-up, complete with individual and team stats. The Hokies will open the 2007 season on Feb. 10, taking on NCAA tournament participant Tennessee Tech at the Georgia State Tournament in Atlanta.