Collegiate Times

The Virgina Tech softball team used a strong offensive performance and the pitching of Angela Tincher to defeat the NC State Wolfpack 8-0, in five innings, at Tech Softball Park on Sunday.

The Hokies won the third and final game of their series with the Wolfpack after splitting the first two games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

With the two victories, No. 25 Virginia Tech improved their overall record to 28-11. The Hokies are now 6-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. NC State, ranked No. 24, fell to 24-16 overall and 4-5 within the ACC.

Over the course of the three-game series, Tincher pitched 15 innings and struck out 18 batters. She now has 16 shutouts, a 0.41 ERA and a 22-3 record this season.

Her strikeout of Wolfpack catcher Miranda Ervin to end the fourth inning on Sunday was the 1,200th of her career. Tincher became the 20th person in NCAA history to achieve that feat.

"It was really exciting," she said. "I knew I needed seven coming in to (Sunday). I didn't realize that was the one until I was told after the inning."

Tincher had plenty of run support in the series finale.

The Hokies began their scoring in the second inning when right fielder Whitney Davis doubled down the left field line to drive in pinch runner Jenna Rhodes and center fielder Jessica Everhart.

Tech put up three more runs in the third inning. Second baseman Erin Ota's triple to right field scored designated player Callie Rhodes. Later, Everhart's single through the right side of the infield drove in left fielder Caroline Stolle and first baseman Stephanie Savre to make the score 5-0.

After rain began to fall in the fourth inning, the Hokies continued to pour on the runs in the fifth inning. With two runners on base and one out, freshman shortstop Anna Zitt hit her first collegiate home run over the left-center field fence, which ended the game due to an eight-run mercy rule.

"She managed to get a pitch up in the strike zone, stayed real aggressive with it and the ball got out," said Hokies head coach Scot Thomas.

Zitt hopes that her home run is a harbinger of future success.

"I've been struggling at the plate all year, so this was a big hit for me," she said. "Hopefully I'll just take it from there and continue to hit well."

In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, both teams were held scoreless until Tech broke through in the fifth inning. With two outs, a single to left field by catcher Kelsey Hoffman drove in the only runs of the contest.

Hoffman accounted for two of the Hokies' three hits on offense, while Tincher gave up five hits, struck out nine and pitched a complete game in Tech's 2-0 win.

Saturday's second game was also closely contested. Tech starter Karie Morrison pitched four innings, allowing five hits and one run.

After Tincher relieved Morrison in the fifth inning, Wolfpack third baseman Jen Chamberlin launched a solo home run to put NC State up 2-0.

Wolfpack starting pitcher Abbie Sims was working on a no-hitter in the seventh inning. However, following two walks, an Everhart single loaded the bases with no outs.

After Davis struck out swinging, Hoffman singled to right-center field. Jenna Rhodes scored to cut the lead to 2-1.

Following a strikeout of Beth Walker, Callie Rhodes hit a ground ball to NC State shortstop Shanna Smith. Rhodes tried to beat Smith's throw to first, but was called out at on a close play that ended the game and disheartened the Hokie faithful.

"I had a pretty good view of it," Thomas said. "It could have gone either way. We still had our opportunities (earlier in the game). We just didn't come through."

By winning two out of three against the Wolfpack, the Hokies move into second place and remain two games behind North Carolina in the ACC standings.

Tech will next play an out-of-conference doubleheader at Longwood on Wednesday at 4 p.m.