May 14, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Virginia Tech held off Maryland, 5-3 in game ten of the 2005 ACC Softball Tournament on Saturday, May 14 at the Terrapin Softball Complex. Freshman pitcher Angela Tincher earned her 20th win of the season as she led the Hokies to victory. First baseman Stephanie Savre went 2-for-3 in the game with a pair of RBI to pace Virginia Tech at the plate.

The Hokies scored a run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead on Maryland. Savre connected on an RBI double to center scoring Kelly Brown. In the inning, Brown extended her hitting streak to 23-games with a leadoff single to center.

With two outs in the bottom of the second, the Hokies added to their lead as Caitlin Murphy sent an RBI single to center scoring Ciara Chaffee. Chaffee made a great slide at the plate to avoid the tag from Maryland catcher Nikki Smith to give the Hokies a 2-0 advantage. The Terrapins made a pitching change as Crystal Crews entered the game replacing Jessica Aditays after just 1.2 innings of work. The Hokies added two more runs as Terrapin right fielder Jenny Belak dropped a fly ball by Alisia Narodowski scoring Brown and Murphy. Savre picked up her second RBI in as many innings as she bounced one through the left side of the infield bringing home Narodowski for a 5-0 Hokie lead.

The Terrapins cut into the Virginia Tech lead with a three spot in the top of the fifth off relief pitcher Katie Maynard. With the bases loaded and two outs, Crystal Tweedy reached on a fielding error by Narodowski scoring Crystal Rizzuto and pinch runner Meghan Booth. Nneka Cardoza would be awarded home on the play after Sarah Prosise's throw from center field sailed into the Hokie dugout. Tincher returned to the circle for the Hokies and closed out the inning getting Lindsay Klein to pop up to end the inning.

Tincher earned the win for the Hokies going 6.1 strong innings allowing no runs on three hits and seven strikeouts. Aditays took the loss for the Terrapins allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out one. Crews threw well in relief for the Terps, working 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on two hits while fanning three.

The win moves Virginia Tech to 42-22 on the season. The Hokies will advance to play Virginia next, for the right to play in the finals of the ACC Softball Championship on Sunday, May 15 at 12:00 pm. The loss runs Maryland's record to 28-21, eliminating the Terrapins from the 2005 ACC Softball Tournament.