March 2, 2007

Box Scores

Hokies 8, Jacksonville State 0 (5)
Hokies 2, UCF 1

 

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The Virginia Tech softball team opened play at the Knight Games Friday evening with a pair of victories at Merrill Park. The Hokies run-ruled Jacksonville State, 8-0, before squeezing out a 2-1 win over Central Florida.

Tech wasted little time in blowing the opener open, scoring five runs in the first inning. Callie Rhodes led off with a single and Erin Ota walked. Charisse Mariconda drove in Rhodes with a single to left and Stephanie Savre loaded the bases when she drew a walk. Jessica Everhart drove in both Ota and Mariconda with a double down the line. On the play, the ball got past the left fielder and rolled to the fence, allowing Savre to score from first and Everhart to make it all the way around.

That's the way the score stood until the fifth inning, when Tech ended the game due to the mercy rule. Savre singled to center and was pinch run for by Jenna Rhodes, who stole second. After Kelsey Hoffman walked and was pinch run for by Steffanie Massetti, the two pulled off a double steal. Caroline Stolle ended the game on the first pitch she saw, ripping a three-run home run to dead center to make it 8-0 and end the game.

At the plate, Tech had 11 hits, led by Callie Rhodes' three. Stolle had two hits and three RBI while Everhart had two hits and two RBI. Ota, Mariconda, Beth Walker and Savre had Tech's other three hits.

In the circle, Angela Tincher (W, 10-1) went all 5.0 innings, allowing just one infield hit while striking out 13.

In the second game of the day, the Hokies again struck early, scoring one run in the first inning off the Golden Knights. Callie Rhodes led off with an infield single and eventually scored on Savre's two-out single to center.

UCF tied it up in the third when Heather Lowry tossed a wild pitch, allowing the runner to score from third base.

The Knights got a leadoff walk in the fourth and Tech head coach Scot Thomas then inserted Tincher into the game. She proceeded to get three straight strikeouts to end the inning. Lowry went 3.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking four and striking out five.

With the game still tied in the sixth, Tech scratched a run across the plate to take the lead. Savre singled and moved to second on Everhart's single. Kelsy Rokey then fouled off several two-strike pitches and eventually put the ball in play. Shortstop Amber Lamb threw the ball away, which allowed Savre to score the unearned run.

The Hokies had just four hits in the game, two coming from Savre. Everhart and Whitney Davis had the other two.

Tincher picked up the win in relief to move to 11-1 on the year. She pitched four innings, allowing no hits or runs, while walking one and striking out 10.

The Hokies (14-4) will return to action Saturday afternoon, taking on Holy Cross at 3 p.m., followed by Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m.