March 28, 2006
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech took advantage of one South Carolina error to take game one of a doubleheader 1-0 Tuesday afternoon. USC fell to 22-13 while Tech improved to 24-8. Kate Pouliot (3-2) took the loss and Angela Tincher recorded the victory (15-2).
In the fourth, Jessica Everhart hit a grounder to shortstop Christie Hamilton for what would have been the third out of the inning, but Hamilton bobbled it and allowed Tech’s Kelly Brown to score from third and put the Hokies on the board 1-0. That would be all Tech would need as Tincher held the Gamecocks scoreless and struck out 11 batters, including the final three of the game.
South Carolina squelched a scoring opportunity for the Hokies in the fifth when Jessica Josker connected with catcher Ashley Smith to throw out Caroline Stolle at home for the third out of the inning. Stolle singled with one out to reach base and tried to score from second on a single by Erin Ota, but the heads up defense by Josker prevented Tech from scoring again.
Pouliot gave up five hits and struck out two while Josker recorded two of South Carolina’s three hits. Hamilton recorded the other hit for USC.
USC has now lost three straight to Virginia Tech, dating back to the 2005 season. Against ACC teams so far this season, the Gamecocks are now 3-2.
