May 19, 2008

Tech heads to Ann Arbor for Super Regionals

The Virginia Tech softball team will head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a best-of-three series against fourth-seeded Michigan, starting Saturday, May 24. The two teams will play a single game on Saturday at noon and then Sunday at 1 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it would be played right after the first Sunday game.

All three games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and on ESPN360.com. The games will be played at the Wilpon Softball Complex at Alumni Field on the campus of UM.

Big rally leads Hokies to Regional title

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A one-hour rain delay to refocus and a little "Enter Sandman" were more than the tonic needed for a struggling Virginia Tech softball team as the Hokies rallied for a 4-2 win over 13th-seeded Tennessee Sunday night at Lee Softball Stadium to clinch the program's first regional championship.

After falling to the Lady Vols 7-1 in the opening game of the day, the Hokies still had one more chance to wrap up the title. But things got off to a rocky start when Tennessee scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to snatch the momentum early on.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Erin Ota singled before the skies opened up and forced both teams off the field with Tennessee clearly holding control of things. But the Hokies regrouped and made some adjustments during the 56-minute delay.

But just as the delay was about to end, Tennessee officials made the mistake of playing "Enter Sandman" - the unofficial second fight song of the athletic department - and sent the Hokie dugout into a frenzy before the song was quickly cut off, but too late as the spirits had been lifted.

With her energy level at its peak, Misty Hall stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run home run down the left field line off Megan Rhodes to suddenly give the Hokies the lead and renewed confidence. But the inning wasn't over. Kelsey Hoffman drew a walk, forcing a pitching change. Jessica Everhart ripped a double off the left field fence to score Hoffman from first base. After Beth Walker reached on an error to move Everhart to third base, Whitney Davis singled to right field to plate Everhart and make it 4-1.

That would be enough for Angela Tincher (W, 36-7) who rebounded from a rough first game and first inning of the second game to stifle the Lady Vols the rest of the way. She went the whole way, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with 11 strikeouts.

Tech had just four hits in the game, but they were timely. Ota, Hall, Everhart and Davis had the lone hits, all coming in that big fourth inning.

Lady Vols force deciding game

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Lady Vols jumped all over Tech starter Angela Tincher in the first inning to cruise to a 7-1 win over the Virginia Tech softball team Sunday in the NCAA Regional final, forcing the deciding game later Sunday.

After recording a strikeout to start the game, Tincher (L, 35-7) walked the next three batters to load the bases before Tiffany Huff drove in two with a double to deep left field.

Tech wasn't able to do anything against Tennessee starter Megan Rhodes, who shut out the Hokies over four innings, allowing just two hits. In the fifth inning, Beth Walker led off the inning with a monstrous home run to left-center field off reliever Ashton Ward. Rhodes eventually re-entered the game and went the rest of the way.