University of Louisville
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Edges Softball 1-0 in 12 innings
May 19, 2006 | Softball
May 19, 2006
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - - Virginia Tech's Callie Rhodes' two-out single in the bottom of the twelfth gave the Hokies a 1-0 win over the University of Louisville softball team in the first game of the 2006 NCAA Regionals. The third-seeded Cardinals (43-10) will play fourth-seeded Tennessee Tech Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Second-seeded Virginia Tech (39-19) will face fifth-ranked and top seeded host Tennessee Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The game featured a much-anticipated pitcher's duel between Louisville's Catherine Bishop - the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, who is ranked seventh in the nation in ERA; and Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher, the ACC Pitcher and Player of the Year, who is ranked second in the nation in strikeouts.
After eleven complete scoreless innings, the Cardinals blinked first. In the bottom of the twelfth, Kelsey Hoffman delivered a one-out single up the middle was lifted for pinch runner Theresa Walsh who moved to third on Beth Walker's single to right center to set up Rhodes' two-out single scored Walsh for the 1-0 win.
The Cardinals had opportunities to score in the first three innings. Courtney Moore delivered a two-out double in the first and moved to third on a wild pitch, but Tincher got Lacy Wood to ground out. In the second inning, Kristi Cunningham reached on an infield single and Sarah Totten was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. Tincher struck out Audrey Rendon to end the inning. Louisville stranded two more runners in the third when Leslie Garland led off the frame with an infield single and took second on Candi Hicks' sacrifice bunt. Wood drew a two-out walk, but Tincher struck out Michele Vasquez to end the threat. The Cards would not see another runner for the rest of the game as Tincher retired the next 21 batters to get the win.
Virginia Tech threatened in the bottom of the fifth when Beth Walker and Alisia Narodowski were each hit by a pitch and both advanced to third on a groundout by Callie Rhodes. Bishop got Erin Ota to foul out to end the threat.
Tincher (26-8) got the complete-game shutout win, giving up three hits and striking out 19 in 12 innings. Rhodes led the Hokies at the plate, going 2 for 6 with the game-winning RBI.
Bishop (29-6) took the loss, allowing one earned run on seven hits and striking out 10 in 11.2 innings. Garland, Moore and Cunningham accounted for the Cardinals' three hits. The loss marked Bishop's first since April 19, snapping her 12 game winning streak. The 12 inning game was only the third time U of L has gone into extra innings this season and marked the second longest game in school history - the longest was 15 inning affair against USF on April 15, 2000.
"We played well today," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Catherine Bishop pitched a great game for us and we played solid defense behind her. We have to give credit to Virginia Tech. They were able to capitalize on some opportunities - and we didn't. Angela Tincher is certainly a great pitcher and we couldn't get much off her today."
Virginia Tech (39-19) will move on to play the winner of the Tennessee/Tennessee Tech game Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
