Feb. 7, 2009

Hokies open season with 4-1 win over Maine
A big third inning and a solid effort in the circle from a true freshman lifted the Virginia Tech softball team to a 4-1 victory over Maine Friday afternoon at Frost Stadium to open the 2009 season at the Chattanooga Challenge.

After stranding five runners in the first two innings combined, the Hokies finally broke loose in the third. Jessica Everhart and Whitney Davis executed a double steal and the throw down to third base got away, allowing Everhart to score. Freshman Kristen Froehlich picked up her first collegiate hit and RBI to drive in Davis. Beth Walker eventually scored on a passed ball and Froehlich came across to make it 4-0.

Freshman Abbie Rexrode got the call in the circle and put forth a solid effort in her collegiate debut. She flirted with danger in each of the first two innings and a runner got to third base both times, but her defense bailed her out both times. The Fincastle, Va., native was effective throughout, scattering just four hits over seven innings. She picked up just one strikeout, but allowed her defense to play behind her, inducing 15 groundballs and five fly balls.

Roark shines in 1-0 victory over Troy
An RBI single by Whitney Davis in the third inning was more than enough for Kenzie Roark as Virginia Tech downed Troy 1-0 on Friday evening at the Chattanooga Challenge. With the win, the Hokies - ranked 20th in the country - move to 2-0 on the young season.

Tech loaded the bases in the third inning and with two out, Davis roped a single to left field to score Richelle McGarva from third base. That would be the only run for the Hokies, but would prove to be enough.

Roark (W, 1-0) was spectacular in her season debut, allowing just one hit while striking out seven. The sophomore walked two and kept the Trojan offense off-balance all game.

Seminoles Open Season With 6-0 Win Over Hawkeyes
Florida State softball opened up the 2009 campaign with a big 6-0 win against Iowa on Friday afternoon at McCombs Field for day one of the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational.

Veteran pitcher Terese Gober struck out nine batters and allowed just one hit against the Hawkeyes. Fellow junior Monica Montez led the Noles with three hits while redshirt senior Jessica Gilmore also had a multi-hit game with two.

The Seminoles put down nine hits with four RBI and only three batters struck out against the Iowa team that received votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 preseason poll.

Florida State Splits Opening Day With 3-2 Loss To Texas
Following a solid 6-0 sweep over Iowa earlier in the day, Florida State was unable to repeat against Texas in game two, falling 3-2 at McCombs Field. The Seminoles are 1-1 at the conclusion of day one at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational.

The Seminoles got things started early in the first inning thanks to the dynamic duo of junior Carly Wynn and senior Kaleigh Rafter. Wynn got on base thanks to a double hit towards left center and was brought home on an RBI single hit by Rafter in the third spot. Both went 2-for-3 with one RBI apiece against Texas and head into day two tied with .429 batting averages.

Sophomore pitcher Sarah Hamilton threw a complete game with seven strikeouts, giving up three earned runs on six hits with one walk. 

No. 18 Carolina Downs FIU, 1-0
After dropping the season opener earlier in the day Friday, the North Carolina softball team was looking for redemption in the nightcap and the Tar Heels found just that when Anna Roberts crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh to give Carolina a 1-0 win over host FIU. Freshman Constance Orr picked up the win for the Tar Heels after coming on in relief of starter Danielle Spaulding who struck out 14 batters in six innings of work. Carolina will take on Auburn (6 p.m.) and Jacksonville (8 p.m.) Saturday on day two of the FIU Combat Classic.

Spaulding was nearly unhittable in her first action of the new campaign as the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif, native cruised through the first three innings not allowing a hit. The Tar Heels looked to provide some run support right away as Breanna Brown led off the bottom of the first with a single before stealing second base an Anna Roberts walk put runners on first and second and then second and third following a groundout. A walk issued to Brittany McKinney loaded the bases with one out but back-to-back outs ended the threat and would be Carolina's only threat until the bottom of the sixth.

Florida International finally put a hit on the board in the top of the fourth with a fly ball that dropped just fair down the right field line, but Spaulding was not fazed as she sat down the next two batters on strikes. Three more K's by Spaulding in the fifth would give her 13 for the game. A leadoff bunt single by FIU in the sixth put a little pressure on the Tar Heel defense. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner up a base but Spaulding took over getting a grounder back to herself before tallying her 14th strikeout of the night to end the threat and give Carolina a chance to win in the bottom of the sixth.

Tar Heels Drop Season Opener, 1-0
One unearned run would be the difference Friday night in Miami, Fla. as the North Carolina softball team dropped its opening game of the 2009 campaign to Louisville, 1-0. The Tar Heels will look to bounce back right away as they take on tournament host FIU at 8 p.m.

Louisville picked up a pair of hits off of starter Lisa Norris in the bottom of the second inning and looked to claim an early lead but solid defense by the Tar Heels ended any threat. A leadoff single by Melissa Roth was quickly erased as catcher Brittany McKinney cut down the stealing Roth at second for the first out of the inning. Following a strikeout by Norris Louisville's Chelsea Bemis doubled to right center before Norris struck out another batter to end the threat.

Norris would settle down from that point not allowing another hit until the bottom of the fifth inning. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, Kristen Wadwell was just as good keeping Carolina in check most of the game. McKinney picked up a two-out single in the top of the second for Carolina's first hit before the Tar Heels were held without a hit until their final at bat.

Softball Drops Season Opener to Massachusetts, 8-3
The University of Maryland softball team opened its 2009 season by falling to nationally-ranked Massachusetts, 8-3, during the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic in the FAU Softball Stadium.

Infielders Devon Williams and Marisha Branson tallied two hits apiece and Williams added a pair of RBIs, but it was not enough against the Minutewomen, who rank No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.

Following an early 2-0 Minutewomen lead, The Terps answered in the bottom of the first by scoring two runs of their own. Outfielder Niki Lau, and infielders Alex Schultz and Breanna Shaw walked to load the bases and Williams, a senior from Cleveland, N.C., contributed a two-out, two-run single.

The Terps (0-1) added another run in their half of the second

Maryland Softball Nipped by Tournament Host Florida Atlantic
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Despite out-hitting Florida Atlantic by five, the University of Maryland softball team fell to the tournament host Owls, 3-2, Friday night during the team's second game competing in the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic.

The Terrapins pounded out nine hits - their most in eight games dating back to last season - but could not overcome some timely hitting by the Owls during their matchup in FAU Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Kerry Hickey continued to demonstrate her multi-dimensional ability, collecting three hits at the plate while also pitching two scoreless innings in relief for the Terps. Outfielder Nadine Blackie added a pair of hits and accounted for one of Maryland's three doubles along with Hickey and infielder Alex Schultz.

With Maryland trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, Hickey jumpstarted the Terps' offense by knocking a double to deep center to score outfielder Niki Lau from second. Infielder Breanna Shaw followed with an RBI groundout that platted Schultz to tie the game.

Boston College Softball Drops Opening Games of Centenary Tournament
Shreveport, La. - In its season debut, the Boston College softball team (0-2, 0-0 ACC) dropped its opening two games of the Centenary Tournament, falling to host Cententary, 8-6 in nine innings, and to Missouri State by a score of 1-0.

Sophomore Carolyn Jones went 3-for-7 with an RBI and two runs scored. Junior pitcher Taylor Peyton pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run in the loss to Missouri State.

Centenary-8, BC-6 - Allison Gage (0-1) got the start for the Eagles against host Centenary. The home team jumped out in front early with a leadoff home run in the first inning. The Eagles answered in the top half of the second inning, as Alison Kooistra singled home Brittany Wilkins to tie the score.

BC jumped out in front with three runs in the top half of the third inning. Carolyn Jones singled to start the inning, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Angela Pandolfo. After Irene Delagrammaticas singled to move Jones to third, the Eagles got a run home after an error cause by Delagrammaticas' first steal of the season. Another single by Amy Tunstall, followed by a fielder's choice by Gemma Ypparila plated Delagrammaticas. Ypparila who reached first on the play, got caught in a run down, allowing another run to score for the Eagles.