March 26, 2008

Virginia Tech Upsets US National Team, 1-0, Behind Tincher's No-Hitter 

• Virginia Tech vs. Team USA Photo Gallery

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - In one of the biggest upsets in softball history, the Virginia Tech softball team, behind a no-hit performance from Angela Tincher, defeated the U.S. National Softball Team, 1-0, Wednesday night in an exhibition game at Hall of Fame Stadium.

The Hokies got a run in the second inning and that would prove to be enough. Catcher Kelsey Hoffman led off the inning with a double to the right-center gap and was pinch ran for by Anna Zitt. Zitt moved to third on an illegal pitch by USA pitcher Jennie Finch and scored on a bloop two-out single by Caroline Stolle.

The 1-0 lead was the first time in 18 games for Team USA on its KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour it has trailed as the team came in outscoring its opponents 174-3. The Hokies became just the second team to score on the Red, White and Blue as Cal State Fullerton scored three runs.

Tincher, the reigning USA Softball National Player of the Week, was a walk away from a perfect game, but struck out 10 in winning the "Tinch vs. Finch" battle. Finch took the loss, going 4.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Monica Abbott pitched the last three innings, allowing two hits with six strikeouts.

NC State's McKenzie Tosses Perfect Game Against Winthrop

RALEIGH, N.C. - Mendy McKenzie (8-4) was flawless against Winthrop on Wednesday, March 26, tossing a perfect game in six innings as NC State clubbed the Eagles 8-0 in the second game of a doubleheader at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium. The Clemmons, N.C. native tied her season-high with 10 K's en route to dismissing all 18 batters she faced.

The no-no stands as the 11th in State's five-year history. It also marks the program's third perfect game, second of the six-inning variety.

"I'm just so happy for Mendy," said head coach Lisa Navas. "She did everything that we needed and more, and it's a special situation for her."

The last Wolfpack no-hitter came courtesy of All-American Abbie Sims at Campbell on April 18, 2007. Sims showing against the Camels was also a perfect game.

Bechtholdt Walk Off Seals the Deal in 11th

RALEIGH, N.C. - Kristine Bechtholdt thumped a two-run dinger in the bottom of the 11th, handing NC State a 2-0 victory over Winthrop in a two hour and 21 minute marathon at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, March 26.

Lindsay Campana (10-12) struck out a career-best 14 batters, allowed just four hits and tossed 5.2 innings of no-hit ball while picking up the complete-game shutout. Her previous career high was 10 K's against Tennessee Tech this past Feb. 23 at the College of Charleston's Cougar Classic.

Izzy Trottier (1-2) took the loss in relief, pitching 3.1 innings. Megan Evans started in the circle for Winthrop, working seven innings and allowing four hits.

Shanna Smith and Alyssa Allbritten both picked up walks and pulled off a double-steal in the bottom of the first, but were left stranded at second and third.

Boston College Wins Seventh And Eighth Straight Games

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College softball team (18-15, 1-2 ACC) won its seventh and eighth consecutive games, beating the Holy Cross Crusaders (2-13, 0-0 Patriot) by scores of 8-4 and 4-3 on Wednesday.

Sophomore Dani Weir broke out offensively for the Eagles, picking up three RBIs on five hits in the two-game series. She now has 22 hits on the season and is second on the team with 14 RBIs.

Sophomore Taylor Peyton (10-5) started her 13th game of the season and picked up her eighth complete game in the day's first win. She faced 30 batters, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven.

The Crusaders jumped ahead early in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs on two singles. BC went on to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning, putting four runs on the board. With the bases loaded and one out, sophomore catcher Amy Tunstall single for the first run, her 10th RBI of the season. Weir then doubled for two RBIs, scoring junior Renee Ramos and Peyton. Freshman Irene Delagrammaticas grounded out to the shortstop, allowing pinch runner Alison Kooistra to score the fourth run.

Florida State Sweeps Home Doubleheader Against Georgia Southern

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State returned home on Wednesday, March 26, with a doubleheader sweep against Georgia Southern on JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles are now 27-12 while the Eagles drop to 20-19.

Senior pitcher Tiffany McDonald threw a no-hitter as the Seminoles shutout the Eagles 8-0 in game one. McDonald struck out an impressive 11 batters and walked only one in the first win. The Belfair, Wash., native is now 11-3 on the season with a team leading 1.17 ERA and 114 strikeouts.

Two Seminoles went 2-for-3 in game one, sophomores Carly Wynn and Monica Montez. At the end of the night, Wynn was 4-for-6 with two runs, three RBI and a stolen base; she is now hitting a .353 average.

Continuing to lead FSU with her .338 batting average is senior Whitney Buckmon, who was 1-for-5, hitting a double, scoring one run, driving in an RBI and also picking up one stolen base at the end of both games.

No. 19 North Carolina Sweeps Longwood

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The No. 19 North Carolina softball team eclipsed the 30-win mark on Wednesday as the Tar Heels swept Longwood (17-12) in a midweek doubleheader. Carolina (30-6-1) opened the day with a 8-0 win in five innings before taking the nightcap 3-1 for the sweep. The Tar Heels improved to 16-0 at home on the year and will look to add to that total this weekend when they host Georgia Tech in a three game weekend series.

Danielle Spaulding got the call in the circle for game one and delivered another stellar performance. The sophomore struck out 13 batters for the second consecutive game and allowed just one hit in her five innings of work. With the win Spaulding is now 9-1 on the year. The Fontana, Calif. native struck out nine batters in the opening three innings, allowing just one hit and a walk.

The Tar Heels got on the board early when Jennifer Jacobs connected on her ACC-leading seventh home run of the year, a shot that cleared the centerfield fence. Jacobs' blast was a two-run shot thanks to a leadoff single from Cassie Palmer. Dani Manko helped extend the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third when she laced a ball down the right field line that rolled into the corner for a two-run double.

Cavaliers Sweep Patriots in Doubleheader

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia softball team (9-22, 2-4 ACC) ended its nine-game losing skid with a doubleheader sweep over George Mason (7-19) Wednesday at The Park. The Cavaliers won the first game 5-3 and also took game two, 6-2. Fourth-year Lindsey Preuss tallied five hits on the day while rookie Alison Pittman had four.

UVa outhit Mason 10-8 in game one. Preuss led the way with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate while Meghan O'Leary and Pittman also had multiple-hit performances for the Orange and Blue.

Fourth-year co-captain Whitney Holstun picked up the win in the circle for UVa, throwing her fourth complete game of the season. Holstun registered a team season-high with seven strikeouts in the winning effort.

The Patriots took an early lead in the first inning, but Virginia responded to tie the game in the bottom half. O'Leary led off with a single for Virginia and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Pittman. A Mason error put on Kelly Haller and O'Leary was able to come around and score from second.