May 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher (37-5) worked 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and struck out 10, and Kelsey Rokey hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, to lead No. 15 Virginia Tech (48-14) past No. 17 Georgia Tech (53-14), 2-0, in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game on Sunday at JoAnne Graf Field.
“We didn’t execute today,” said Tech coach Sharon Perkins. “We had runners in scoring position with the top of the lineup up, and couldn’t produce any runs and that turned the game. Tincher did a great job, and Virginia Tech deserves all the credit.”
Sophomore Blair Shimandle led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-3. Junior Stephanie Butler added a single for the Jackets.
Senior Sarah Wood (12-2) tasted defeat for the first time in eight consecutive starts, working 1.1 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. Sophomore Tiffany Johnson worked 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and fanned two.
Senior Caitlin Lever and sophomores Jennifer Yee and Whitney Haller were selected to the ACC All-Tournament Team. The Hokies’ Tincher did not allow a single earned run in four games and was named ACC Tournament MVP.
VT’s Rokey gave the Hokies an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with her fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center field.
The Yellow Jackets put runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the third inning on consecutive singles by Shimandle and Butler and a passed ball, but were unable to score a run with the top of the lineup going down in order with two strikeouts and a foul out to third base.
Neither team managed a run over the final five innings as the Hokies took home their first ACC crown in school history.
Tech had no runs, on three hits and committed one error, while the Hokies scored two runs, on five hits and had one error.
The Yellow Jackets will await an at-large selection from the NCAA Selection Committee. The brackets will be announced later today on ESPNews from 3-4 p.m. The Jackets are currently No. 15 in the NCAA RPI rankings.
NOTES: The Jackets are 2-3 in ACC title games and 1-1 against the Hokies… Yee’s 18-game hitting streak came to an end for GT.
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