May 12, 2007

• Box Score
• ACC Softball Championship Site
• Archived Webcast on ACCSelect.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - ACC Pitcher of the Year Angela Tincher threw a near-perfect seven-innings of work for top-seeded Virginia Tech en route to advancing the Hokies to their second ACC Softball Tournament title game in three years. Virginia Tech posted a 3-0 win, eliminating No. 5 seed North Carolina in Saturday's tournament action at the JoAnne Graf Field on the campus of Florida State University.

"This was a great win for us," said ACC Coach of the Year Scot Thomas. "I was a little nervous this morning. UNC was in a position where they had nothing to lose and if they could get this win, they would be in a spot to do the things that they wanted to do in the second game. I am proud of the girls and their focus today. I just hope we can do it one more time tomorrow."

With the win, the Hokies improve to 47-14 on the year after winning the league's regular season title, a feat that Virginia Tech has never accomplished before. North Carolina's record went to 45-19 on the year.

Tincher, who faced 22 batters and allowed only two hits, claimed her 36th win of the season. In day one of the four-day tournament, the standout set the ACC mark for career strikeouts. The junior now has 1,424 strikeouts in her career, which passed Georgia Tech Jessica Sallinger's mark of 1,398, set from 2002-2005.

In the top of third, pinch runner Jenna Rhodes scored on a throwing error by North Carolina catcher Whitney Gelin. Rhodes entered the inning running for Kelsy Rokey, who tallied a single to left field.

The Hokies added another run to the boards, improving the Virginia Tech advantage to 2-0. First baseman Stephanie Savre singled and advanced to second with an error by UNC right fielder Emily Troup. Savre rounded the bases when teammate and catcher Kelsey Hoffman blasted a fly to center field.

The final run of the day came in the top of the fifth as Rhodes singled to shortstop, stole second and scored on left fielder Caroline Stolle's single to center field.

The Virginia Tech ball club looks to win its first ACC Tournament crown as the Hokies face the No. 3 seed Georgia Tech in Sunday's championship, a game that will be broadcast live on RSN at Noon ET. Both teams enter the game with 3-0 records in the tournament.

The title contest between the Hokies and Yellow Jackets is a rematch of the 2005 title game, when Georgia Tech used a 1-0 win to defeat Virginia Tech. Sunday's tilt also boasts the league's top pitcher in Tincher against the ACC top offense (GT).

GAME NOTES:

• Tincher, who faced 22 batters and allowed only two hits, claimed her 36th win of the season. In day one of the four-day tournament, the standout set the ACC mark for career strikeouts. The junior now has 1,424 strikeouts in her career, which passed Georgia Tech Jessica Sallinger's mark of 1,398, set from 2002-2005.
• The title contest between the Hokies and Yellow Jackets is a rematch of the 2005 championship game, when Georgia Tech used a 1-0 win to defeat Virginia Tech.
• Sunday's tilt also boasts the league's top pitcher in Tincher against the ACC top offense (Georgia Tech).
• Virginia Tech has not allowed a single run in 18 consecutive innings of ACC Tournament action. The Hokies gave up only one run in the third inning of their first game (Virginia).