Sunday, March 20, 2005

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Mar. 20, 2005) - A two-run homer by Virginia Tech's Sarah Prosise in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference as Virginia Tech defeated the East Tennessee State softball team, 4-3, in the championship of the Hokie Fastpitch Classic, Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.

East Tennessee State (10-18) took the early advantage with two runs in the top of the first. Senior Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit an infield single then stole second. Freshman Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) walked as Hazelwood took third on a wild pitch. Knight stole second and both runners came home on a wild pitch and subsequent throwing error.

But the Hokies (27-6) tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. Megan Evans and Caitlin Murphy both walked with one out and would later score on an Alisia Narodowski single up the middle.

With the score tied at two in the bottom of the fifth, Virginia Tech's Stephanie Savre hit a leadoff double to left-center. With one out in the frame, Prosise hit her two-run homer that would eventually decide the game.

The Bucs cut the Hokie lead to one as sophomore Stephanie Gaynord (Manassas, Va.) hit a solo homer to left center, but that was as close as they would get.

Angela Tincher (13-2) earned the win for the Hokies, pitching allowing two earned runs on five hits while walking four and striking out 15 over seven innings. ETSU junior Belinda Barrera (Fayetteville, N.C.) was charged with the loss (2-6) after giving up four earned runs on six hits in six innings of work.

Gaynord led the Lady Bucs at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Prosise went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs for Virginia Tech.

The Lady Bucs return to action on Wednesday afternoon for their home opener as they host Morehead State in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.