March 14, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Virginia Tech scored a combined five runs in back-to-back innings to grab a 5-1 game two win over the 24th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks and split the doubleheader series Wednesday night. With the loss, head coach Joyce Compton’s 1,000th career win will have to wait as the Gamecocks fall to 24-4 on the season. The Hokie’s Heather Lowry recorded the win to improve to 4-4 and Angela Tincher earned her second save of the season as Virginia Tech improved to 22-8. Kate Pouliot took the loss for the Gamecocks and is now 12-2.
Lowry pitched four innings and gave up one run on four hits, while Tincher pitched three innings without any hits and struck out five of the nine batters she faced.
Virginia Tech took the 2-0 lead in the fifth inning after Whitney Davis scored from third on a wild pitch and Erin Ota hit an RBI single to drive in Kelsy Rokey, who reached on a walk.
South Carolina answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Tori Martin led off with a walk and scored from first on an RBI double by Ashton Payne. It was then the Hokies changed pitchers and brought in Tincher to preserve the lead. Tincher got the first out but then hit McKenna Hughes to put the lead run on base. With two runners on, the Gamecocks were unable to clear the bases as the next two batters struck out and Tincher got Virginia Tech out of the jam safely.
Tech continued to hit Pouliot in the sixth as they batted through the lineup and connected on four hits, including two doubles, to provide base runners. Stephanie Savre led off with a double and her pinch hitter Jenna Rhodes scored on an RBI double by Caroline Stolle to put Tech up 3-1. Stolle eventually scored on an RBI single by Anna Zitt and the Hokies were up 4-1. The fifth and final run of the game came on a questionable call at the plate when Davis scored with the bases loaded on a fielder’s choice. South Carolina finally got out of the inning when Lindsay Walker made a play at the plate for the second out and Charisse Mariconda grounded out to end the inning.
With only four hits in the game, the Gamecocks were unable to hit anything off of Tincher for the final two innings and the Hokies claimed the win for the split.
The five runs is the second most scored against the Gamecocks this season. USC surrendered eight runs to Florida State, who was ranked No. 22 at the time, back in February.
The Gamecocks return to SEC action this weekend when they host No. 2 Alabama to Beckham Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. (ET).
Virginia Tech 5, South Carolina 1 (Mar 14, 2007 at Columbia, S.C.) (Game 2)
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Virginia Tech……. 000 023 0 – 5 9 0 (22-8)
South Carolina…… 000 010 0 – 1 4 1 (24-4)
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Pitchers: Virginia Tech – Heather Lowry; Angela Tincher(5). South Carolina – Kate Pouliot.
Win-Heather Lowry(4-4) Save-Angela Tincher(2) Loss-Kate Pouliot(12-2) T-1:42 A-168
Game notes: Coach Compton needs one more win to reach career No. 1,000.
Lowry, H. faced 2 batters in the 5th.
