Softball takes two of three games over weekend
Brian Wright, CT Staff Writer
April 24, 2007
They wore commemorative patches on their jerseys and emotions on their sleeves. The Virginia Tech softball team lifted the spirits of all Hokie supporters in attendance, winning twice in their three-game weekend series against the Maryland Terrapins at Tech Softball Park.
Following a stirring pre-game ceremony, the 20th-ranked Hokies took the field for the first time since Monday's campus shootings. Before a crowd of over 1,200 fans, mostly adorned in maroon and orange, Tech won both games of a Saturday doubleheader.
"We wanted to win for all the fans that came out and supported us during this tough time," said head coach, Scot Thomas.
The Hokies jumped on the board quickly in the first game. After scoring four runs in the bottom of the first, Tech put up another run in the next inning and gave pitcher Angela Tincher a five-run lead to work with.
Tincher shut out the Terps for five innings before being relieved by Heather Lowry, who ran into late trouble. With one out in the seventh inning, Maryland All-American Amber Jackson launched a three-run home run to center field.
After getting the second out, Lowry surrendered another Terrapin home run. Sarde Stewart's solo round-tripper made the score 5-4 and forced Thomas to re-enter Tincher into the pitcher's circle.
A foul out by Lindsey Klein ceased all drama and gave Tech a one-run win. Tincher pitched a total of 5 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and striking out nine.
Game two was considerably less stressful for the Hokies. After Maryland put up a single run in the top of the first, Tech scored eight runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Hokies scored twice more before the game was called in the fifth inning due to the sport's eight-run mercy rule. Big bats and the arm of Tincher helped Tech win easily, 11-1.
Highlighting the offense was designated player Kelsy Rokey and left fielder Caroline Stolle. Rokey had two home runs and four RBI's, while Stolle went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.
In Sunday's series finale, Tincher, who began the game with an ERA of 0.46, was roughed up early. Brittany Bessho's doubled into the right field gap to drive in two runs, and then scored on a Klein single.
The Terps put up another run in the third before the Hokies' offense responded in the bottom half of the inning. With designated player Callie Rhodes on third base and two outs, Stolle hit an RBI single to left field. That was followed by a first-pitch home run by first baseman, Stephanie Savre. Her sixth home run of the season cut the deficit to one.
After catcher Kelsey Hoffman singled, she tied the score on third baseman Charisse Mariconda's double to deep center field.
Back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth helped Maryland regain the lead. Tech had many chances to drive in key runs, including one in the final inning. After Rhodes drew a one-out walk, second baseman Erin Ota struck out looking.
Stolle then hit a towering fly ball down the left field line that eventually drifted foul. Thomas was reminded of a similar situation that occurred in baseball's World Series nearly 32 years ago.
"I was thinking about doing what Carlton Fisk did with the Red Sox," he said. "I was trying to wave it back in."
After fouling off several pitches, Stolle popped up to Maryland second baseman Keri Lounge, handing the Hokies a 5-4 defeat.
Terrapins' starting pitcher Meredith Nelles out-dueled Tincher, who suffered her fifth defeat of the season and had problems with a finger on her throwing hand.
"She was having a hard time gripping the ball," Thomas said. "That was a big problem for her early in the game."
By winning two out of three against the Terps, Tech's overall mark now stands at 38-13 and 13-4 in the ACC.
The Hokies are clinging to a half-game lead in the ACC standings over the N.C. State Wolfpack. Both teams have one three-game in-conference series remaining next weekend. The Wolfpack will play Maryland in College Park, while Tech hosts Boston College.
After the weekend, Maryland is currently 27-19 with a 5-9 record in conference.
Before the final home series of the season, Tech takes on Furman in a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday starting at 3 p.m.