Tuesday, April 18, 2006

BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 18, 2006) - Behind solid pitching and an eight-run fourth inning, Virginia Tech downed ETSU, 8-2, at the 10^th Annual Stateline Classic, at Whitetop Creek Park.  The Hokies move to 31-13 following the non-conference win, while the Lady Bucs fall to 13-33, in their 11^th-straight defeat.

Virginia Tech broke upon three innings of scoreless play in the fourth, blasting ETSU for eight runs and eight hits, including two-run homers from both Stephanie Savre and Charisse Mariconda.

Hokie hurler Angela Tincher kept the ETSU bats at bay in the early innings, fanning 11 batters, including eight of ETSU's first nine hitters.  Tincher, who is ranked second in the NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings, improved to 19-6 in 4.0 innings of work.

Janine Sprague (Hillsborough, N.C.) was the lone Lady Buc to manage a hit off Tincher, sending a solo shot over the left-field fence in the fourth inning.  The blast was Sprague's fourth of the season. 

The Lady Bucs also had little luck against Hokie closer Katie Maynard, who got her first save of the season in 3.0 innings in the circle.  Maynard gave up just two ETSU base knocks, while striking out seven.

ETSU got its second score of the affair in the fifth, when Jessica Lonsinger (Dale City, Va.) slammed a solo blast off of Maynard, her third of the season.

Brittany Lehrschall (Leland, N.C.) took the loss for the Lady Bucs, falling to 3-9 on the year.  After allowing three hits in the first inning, Lehrschall settled down, retiring the next nine batters in-a-row.  The sophomore pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, two earned.

Courtney Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) took the mound in relief, giving up seven hits and three runs.

The Lady Bucs head back into Atlantic Sun competition on Thursday, as they travel to Nashville, Tenn., to meet the Bruins of Belmont.  The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. CST.