BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 22, 2008) - The ETSU softball team could not handle the 18^th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies Tuesday night in the State Line Classic from Whitetop Creek Park in Bristol, Tenn. The Hokies took advantage of two big innings and walked away with a 6-0 victory.

With the defeat, ETSU fell to 24-29 on the campaign; while Virginia Tech improved to 39-12 and move to 9-1 all-time against the Lady Bucs. 

After both pitchers cruised through the first two innings, sophomore Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) faced some troubles in the bottom half of the third as a critical error by Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Calif.) at short prolonged the inning and proved to be the dagger.

The Hokies Anna Zitt led off the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second when Jenna Rhodes walked. Then, Erin Ota tapped one right in front of the plate, and sophomore catcher Trisha Massenzo (Russellville, Tenn.) gunned Zitt out at third for the first out of the inning. From there, the Lady Bucs looked to have forced the Hokies to hit into their second fielder's choice when Charisse Mariconda lined one to Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) at second, but Cason could not hold onto the throw - which in result loaded the bases. Tech's Kelsey Hoffman flied out to center - but with the extra out - Misty Hall singled to left and drove in Ota and Rhodes.

Virginia Tech busted the game open after plating four runs in the very next inning to take a 6-0 lead. The long ball came into play as Caroline Stolle sent one flying over the center field fence, giving the Hokies a 5-0 advantage. Virginia Tech pushed one more run across on Mariconda's RBI single.

The run support made Angela Tincher's day a short one after she was nearly perfect in her four innings of action. Tincher - who already no-hit the U.S. National Team earlier this season - kept ETSU hitless and only put one runner on base after walking Knight in the first.

Unfortunately, things did not change after Kenzie Roark took over for the final three innings. Roark kept the shutout intact after only scattering two hits en route to her second save of the year.

ETSU managed to pull off its first hit on Kate Powell's (Johnson City) bunt single in the fifth; however, she ended the inning when she was caught stealing at second.

Junior Vicki McCoy (Ringgold, Ga.) gave the Lady Bucs their second hit of the game when she led off the sixth with a bunt single. McCoy moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Roark left her stranded as she retired the next three ETSU hitters.

Hardy saw her mark fall to 15-12 after tossing her 20^th complete game of the campaign. The Rocklin, Calif. native allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out two. Tincher improved to 28-5 after tossing four hitless innings and punched out seven, moving her 43 strikeouts away of 2,000 for her career.

The Softball Bucs quickly turn things around as they host Western Carolina Wednesday afternoon in their home finale. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. from Metro-Kiwanis Park.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.