Tech falls to Lady Bisons to close out road trip
Mariconda leads Hokies with two hits and a triple
March 11, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Virginia Tech softball team dropped a 5-4 battle at Lipscomb Wednesday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn. Tech falls to 8-13 this season. Senior Charisse Mariconda led the way for the Hokies with two hits, including a triple, a run scored and a run batted in, while stealing one base. In the circle freshman Abbie Rexrode went the distance for Tech with three strikeouts.

The Hokies posted the first three runs of the game in the top of the third inning. Senior Jenna Rhodes bunted and reached first base for a single. A throwing error on the play allowed freshman Marra Hvozdovic to score from second base.

Mariconda and fellow senior Jessica Everhart each tallied a run batted in for Tech in the stanza. The former ripped a single to left field that scored junior Alicia Field, while the latter hit a ball to left field for a sacrifice fly that scored Rhodes to give the Hokies a 3-0 advantage.

The Lady Bisons stayed with in striking distance after adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut into the Hokies lead, 3-2.

Tech scored in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead at 4-2. Mariconda registered a triple with two outs to give Tech a runner in scoring position. Soon after, Everhart knocked a single up the middle that scored her teammate.

Meanwhile, Lipscomb added its third run in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep the game close 4-3.

After the Hokies were unable to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Bisons stepped to the plate down a single run. With the bases loaded and no outs, Lipscomb freshman Caroline Mason hit a shot to centerfield, just out of the grasp of Hokies centerfielder, Everhart. The Lady Bisons registered the game-tying and winning runs on the play, to give the home team a 5-4 win.

Tech will be back in action this weekend for its home and Atlantic Coast Conference opener against the Wolfpack of NC State. The Hokies will play two games on Saturday, March 14 and one on Sunday, March 15. First pitch of the series is slated for noon on Saturday.