The #2 seed Virginia Tech softball team overcame an uncharacteristically shaky outing from star pitcher Angela Tincher, downing #7 seed Maryland 7-4 in Tech’s first game in the 2008 ACC softball tournament. The Hokies advance to play #3 seed Florida State on Friday.
Tincher, who was named ACC Pitcher of the Year for a record third time Wednesday, pitched all seven innings for the Hokies, giving up six hits and four runs. Two of the runs were earned.
In the top of the first, Maryland touched Tincher for three hits, including a two-run homer, to take a stunning 3-0 lead. The Hokies responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, and tied the game in the second with another run.
VT didn’t let up in the third, taking advantage of two Maryland errors to score two more runs and go up 5-3. The Hokies added two insurance runs in the fifth to go up 7-3, and the last run of the game was scored by Maryland in the top of the seventh, leading to the 7-4 final.
The hitting stars for the Hokies were centerfielder Jenna Rhodes, second baseman Erin Ota, and catcher Kelsey Hoffman, who all collected two hits. Ota and Hoffman both had an RBI, while designated player Jessica Everhart had two RBIs to lead Tech in that category.
Tincher struck out 12 in her seven innings of work, but walked three. She also had a wild pitch that scored a run, and she hit a batter. Tincher is now 31-6 on the season and has 544 strikeouts on the season.
The Hokies will play #2 seed Florida State on Friday at 12:30, in a game that will be webcast on ACCSelect.com.
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