COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A big first inning by seventh-seeded Maryland stunned the second-seeded Virginia Tech softball team, but didn't knock the Hokies out as Tech rallied for a 7-4 win Thursday afternoon in the first round of the ACC Softball Championship, being played at Robert E. Taylor Stadium.

In the final game of the regular-season series, Maryland (36-22) jumped on Angela Tincher for three runs in the first inning, but the 17^th-ranked Hokies responded with five runs in their half of the next inning. This time, the Hokies managed just two runs, but the stage was set for the comeback.

In the first inning, Jenny Belak scored after leading off the game with a sharp single up the middle and a two-run home run by Brittany Bessho made it 3-0. In the bottom of the first, after loading the bases, catcher Kelsey Hoffman singled to left field to plate Jenna Rhodes. On the play, Charisse Mariconda scored on an error to make it s 3-2 game.

In the second inning, an RBI single to right field by Erin Ota plated Caroline Stolle to tie things up. Tech finally took the lead in the third inning thanks to sloppy play by the Terps. Misty Hall walked and stole second before moving to third base on Hoffman's single. Beth Walker missed on the attempted suicide squeeze bunt, but on the pickoff attempt, Bessho's throw was in the dirt and rolled into left field to allow Hall to score. Two batters later, Jessica Everhart's single to center field plated pinch runner Heather Lowry to make it 5-3.

Tech put two more runs on the board in the fifth inning to gain a little breathing room. Mariconda walked and stole second base before Hoffman walked. Walker doubled down the left field line to drive in Mariconda and a sacrifice fly from Everhart drove in Hoffman.

After a terrible first inning, Tincher (W, 31-6) settled down the rest of the way. She allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, with three walks and 12 strikeouts.

Hoffman, Ota and Rhodes led the way at the plate with a pair of hits each. Everhart and Walker each had one hit. Mariconda scored two runs and Everhart had two RBI.

Tech (42-15) will face third-seeded Florida State Friday at 12:30 p.m., in the winner's bracket. Florida State beat sixth-seeded Boston College 5-1 in nine innings on a walk-off grand slam in the first game of the day.