Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech's softball team faced a win or go home situation at the Women's College World Series on Saturday in Oklahoma City.

With the teams held scoreless through eight innings, Florida finally got to College Player of the Year Angela Tincher in the top of the ninth inning.
Senior right fielder Mary Ratliff stepped to the plate for the Gators, with the bases loaded and two outs. In dramatic fashion, Ratliff drove the third pitch she saw into left-center field for the go-ahead double.

Gators left fielder Francesca Enea and pinch runner Kristen Adkins reached home plate on the hit, while Tiffany DeFelice was thrown out at home to end the inning. 

  In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and a runner on base, the Hokies' offense couldn't find the production they had been looking for since Thursday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Shortstop Misty Hall fouled out to first base to end the game and Tech's remarkable run into its first Women's College World Series came to a close.

Angela Tincher had another phenomenal performance, despite the loss. In her final game as a Hokie, Tincher struck out 19 Florida batters and allowed just eight hits over nine innings.       

Unfortunately for the Hokies, Florida junior Stacey Nelson was able to match that effort on the mound. Striking out seven and allowing just two Hokie hits over nine innings, Nelson combined consistency with a great effort from her defense to make the Virginia Tech offense a virtual non-factor.

Florida will move on in the loser's bracket and face second-seeded UCLA later tonight.