BRISTOL, Tenn. - The 18^th-ranked Virginia Tech softball team rolled past East Tennessee State, 6-0, Tuesday night as part of the State Line Classic at Whitetop Creek Park.

The Hokies threatened in the first two innings, but finally broke through in the third stanza thanks to an ETSU error to extend the inning. With Jenna Rhodes on second base and Erin Ota on first, Charisse Mariconda hit a grounder to second baseman Briana Knight, who fielded the ball and flipped it to the base. But shortstop Cheniece Cason dropped the ball and two batters later, Misty Hall ripped a single to left field to plate Rhodes and Ota.

Tech busted things open in the fourth inning, putting two runners on for senior Caroline Stolle. After struggling for much of the year, the Chester, Va., showed the power she exuded last year, crushing a three-run moon shot to center field to make it 5-0. It was her first home run of the season. Mariconda then ripped a single past third base to plate Rhodes for the fourth run of the inning.

At the plate, the Hokies had seven hits, led by two from Rhodes who also had a stolen base. Stolle had a hit with three RBI, Hall had a hit with two RBI and Mariconda had a hit and an RBI. Anna Zitt and Jessica Everhart each had one.

Angela Tincher (W, 28-5) went 4.0 innings, allowing just a walk with seven strikeouts. Kenzie Roark, pitching in her home state for the first time, went the final three innings to earn her second save of the season. She allowed just two hits while striking out four.

With the seven strikeouts, Tincher now sits just 43 away from passing 2,000 for her career.

Tech (39-12) returns home this weekend for a critical three-game ACC series with the University of North Carolina. The Hokies (15-3) need to sweep the 14^th-ranked Tar Heels (16-1) to claim the regular-season title. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon before playing the single game Sunday at 1 p.m.