ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Angela Findlay's RBI single in the sixth inning was enough to lift the No. 4 national seed Michigan Wolverines to a 1-0 win over Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon in NCAA Super Regional softball action in front of 2,267 fans at Alumni Field.

The best-of-three series features the nation's top pitching staff in terms of ERA in Michigan and the national leader in ERA in Tech's Angela Tincher, so it came as no surprise the two teams were scoreless through five innings.

"I thought Angela threw well today, but we just didn't come up with enough runs to win," head coach Scot Thomas said. "We got the pitching effort to win, but we didn't get the runs to get the job done."

In the bottom of the sixth inning, UM's Alessandra Giampaolo fouled off six pitches before lacing a one-out double to the gap and was then lifted for pinch runner Michelle Weatherdon. After striking out pinch hitter Marley Powers on three pitches, Tincher gave up a single up the middle to Findlay. Tech centerfielder Jessica Everhart came up throwing, but the throw was just a bit late as Weatherdon slid under the tag of Tech catcher Kelsey Hoffman.

"I was just trying to mix my pitches and she [Giampaolo] was fouling some off," Tincher said of her duel with Michigan's left fielder. "I think I left the last one a little bit in, but I didn't feel like it was a terrible pitch. Then it was the same thing with Findlay. She just kind of placed it in the right spot. I wish it would've been over a little bit so we could've kept it in the infield, but it was a good battle by her, too, and good placement."

Tech had a couple of good chances in the game. Jenna Rhodes led off with an infield single and Erin Ota was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, but they were left stranded in the first inning.

In the Hokies' half of the sixth, Rhodes again singled, but was thrown out on an attempted stolen base. That would be huge as Ota singled, which would have given Rhodes the opportunity to score.

"I would have sent [Rhodes] home - as long as she didn't hold up for some reason," Thomas said about the missed scoring opportunity. "We would've made them make a throw on it. [Ota's hit] kind of skipped away a little bit and I think we could've scored given Jenna's speed. It was tough and we'd like to have it back."

Tincher (L, 36-8) went the distance, allowing one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and a walk. Michigan's Jordan Taylor (W, 31-3) kept the Hokies off-balance, limiting them to four hits with seven strikeouts of her own. Rhodes had two hits and Ota had one for Tech.

Tincher tossed 107 pitches on the day, 72 for strikes. The anticipated match-up Tincher vs. slugger Samantha Findlay was won by Tincher as she struck out Findlay three times. Findlay entered the game batting .401 with 21 home runs.

With the loss, Tech (47-17) must now beat Michigan (52-6) twice Sunday or its season will be over. The two teams will play the first game at 1 p.m., with a 1:07 first pitch. If Tech wins that game, the two teams will turn around and play again 30 minutes following that game. All of Sunday's action will be televised on ESPN.