BLACKSBURG - The offense pounded out nine hits and Angela Tincher was one out away from a no-hitter as the 21^st-ranked Virginia Tech softball team downed the University of Virginia 4-0 Saturday in the opening game of a three-game ACC set at Tech Softball Park.

For the Hokies, four different players picked up two hits apiece. Erin Ota, Charisse Mariconda, Kelsey Hoffman and Whitney Davis each had two hits while Jenna Rhodes had one.

In the first inning, Ota, who doubled, scored on Hoffman's single. Tech tacked on two more runs in the third inning to make it 3-0. Ota singled and scored on Mariconda's triple down the right field line and Mariconda was plated on Hoffman's single to left. The final run came in the fourth inning when Davis scored on Mariconda's sharp single off the pitcher's glove.

Tincher (W, 18-4) was dominating all game and flirted with yet another no-hitter. She gave up a hard single to right-center field with two outs in the seventh inning to spoil the bid. She finished the game with 14 strikeouts and no walks, allowing the one hit to Carly Winger.

Tech (26-10, 8-2 ACC) and UVA (12-25, 4-6 ACC) will wrap up the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at TSP starting at noon.