May 10, 2008

• 2008 ACC Softball Championship Site
• Webcast Archived on ACC Select
• Box Score
• theACC.com Photo Gallery
  (Photos available for sale. Check back to theACC.com/photostore early in the week for more photos.)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Two days after giving up three runs in the first inning of the Hokies' opening game against Maryland, league Pitcher of the Year Angela Tincher returned to form in Saturday's first semifinal of the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship, no hitting third-seeded Florida State in a 2-0 team win. Virginia Tech, seeded second this week, will take on either North Carolina or NC State Sunday at noon for the ACC title.

With the performance, Tincher becomes just the third pitcher in ACC history to toss a solo no-hitter in league championship play, joining Florida State's Rebecca Aase, who accomplished the feat in 1992, and North Carolina's Danielle Spaulding, who recorded a perfect game Thursday against Virginia. Now with 28 complete games this season and 13 shutouts, Tincher, who leads the league in career wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, owns a league-leading ERA of 0.58. A senior out of Eagle Rock, Va., she struck out 13 in the game, allowing only a single base runner, due to a passed ball in the third inning.

Backing up its star pitcher at the plate, the Hokie offense picked up four hits off of Florida State starter Tiffany McDonald, with each of its two runs coming in the bottom of the second inning. Driving in runs for the Hokies in that stanza were shortstop Misty hall and center fielder Jessica Everhart.

Florida State, which falls to 37-26 in defeat, will now await word of its postseason fate from the NCAA. Selections for the national tournament will be made public this Sunday, May 11, at 10:00 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Hokies, now 43-15 this season and 10-4 in ACC Championship play since joining the league in 2004, will look to become the first team since Florida State in 2004 to repeat as ACC Champions Sunday at noon against the winner of today's second semifinal between top-seeded North Carolina and No. 5 NC State. The Hokies swept the Wolfpack during the regular season and took one of three in its regular series with the Tar Heels.

Saturday's second semifinal is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., and will be webcast live at www.ACCSelect.com. Sunday's final will be broadcast live on the league's Regional Sports Network.