BLACKSBURG - A clutch two-RBI single by Kelsey Hoffman and a dominating performance from Angela Tincher sparked the 19^th-ranked Virginia Tech softball team to a 3-0 win over Florida State Friday night at Tech Softball Park in front of 805 fans.

The game marked the first contest of a big three-game series for the Hokies, who are looking to keep pace with frontrunner North Carolina (13-1 ACC) with next weekend's big series looming.

After coming close in the first inning, the Hokies succeeded in getting some runs on the board in the third inning. Anna Zitt walked to start the inning, Erin Ota singled to left field and then Charisse Mariconda drew a walk to load the bases. Hoffman, a senior from Tequesta, Fla., ripped a shot the opposite way and off FSU first baseman Brittany Osmon's glove into right field to plate Zitt and Ota.

Tech got its final run in the sixth inning when Beth Walker scored on a throwing error by Osmon. Things got interesting in the seventh inning as the Seminoles got the tying run to the plate, but Tincher sat down pinch hitter Kelly Langston to end the game.

Tincher (W, 26-5) was effectively wild early, walking and hitting a few batters, but didn't surrender any hits until the fifth inning when Michelle Stager bunted her way on. The shutout was Tincher's 48^th career, setting a new school record. Ashlee Dobbe held the old record with 47 blankings. The Eagle Rock, Va., native went the distance, allowing just two hits, with a walk and two hit batters while striking out 14. She now sits just 64 strikeouts away from eclipsing the 2,000 mark for her career.

At the plate, Ota led the way with three hits and a run scored. Mariconda had a pair of hits and a stolen base while Hoffman and Walker each had one.

With the win, the Hokies are now 37-11 overall, 14-2 in the ACC while FSU falls to 32-22, 8-8 in the league.

The two teams will play the doubleheader Saturday at Tech Softball Park. Because of the chance of rain, the first game has been moved up to a noon start with the second game following 25 minutes after the end of the first contest. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the Hokie football team will be holding its Spring Game at 2 o'clock and parking is expected to be limited.