Stolle’s Grand Slam Sends Tech to Regional Championship Game

Another great performance from Angela Tincher and a grand slam from Virginia Tech’s #9 hitter propelled the Hokies to a 4-0 win over Tennessee on Saturday. Tech advances to the Regional Championship on Sunday. With one more win, they’ll advance to the Super Regionals.

Angela Tincher pitched a complete game shutout for the second straight game. After a 10-inning 1-0 win on Friday, she struck out 14 batters in seven innings on Saturday afternoon. She has 33 strikeouts in 17 innings so far in the Knoxville Regional.

She had a lot of room to work this time, as a grand slam by Caroline Stolle in the fourth inning gave Virginia Tech a lead that Tincher would never relinquish. Stolle had already struck out once with two outs and the bases loaded, and she came to bat in the fourth inning in the exact same situation.

This time however, she delivered. The right handed hitter nailed a line drive home run to the opposite field, giving Tech a 4-0 lead. It was a dramatic at bat that featured 13 total pitches, and Stolle was able to foul off seven straight pitches to stay alive. The seventh foul ball was a pop up just outside the third base line. Tennessee shortstop Kenora Posey was ready to make the routine play, but she ran into the umpire on the way. After her timing was thrown off by running into the umpire, she settled under the ball, but didn’t make the play.

Stolle had another chance, and on the very next pitch she hit her grand slam.

The Hokies are now the only team in the Knoxville Regional without a loss. In the double elimination tournament, that means Tennessee, Louisville or Winthrop will have to defeat Virginia Tech twice on Sunday to win the Regional. Tech’s opponent will be determined later in the day.