BLACKSBURG – Behind a season-high 14 hits, the Virginia Tech softball team won a high-scoring and soggy affair Friday afternoon over Boston College 9-5 in the first game of a three-game ACC set at Tech Softball Park.

With rain imminent, the game was moved up 20 minutes and Tech used that time to score four quick runs in the first inning. Jenna Rhodes picked up the first of her four hits. Charisse Mariconda singled and Jessica Everhart drew a walk to load the bases. Kristin Graham singled in two runs and Whitney Davis eventually drove in a pair of runs with a double to the gap.

Just as the inning ended, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour ensued. The tarp was put on the field and the game was delayed two hours and 15 minutes.

In the third inning, Beth Walker singled and Davis picked up another hit to get another rally going. With the bases loaded again, Rhodes dumped a single just into the outfield for two RBI to make it 6-0. That hit proved big as the Eagles rallied to make it a 6-4 game.

But in the bottom of the fifth, Tech put the game on ice with three more runs. Amber Walker started the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Marra Hvozdovic. Rhodes singled and both moved up on a sac bunt by Erin Ota. Mariconda also singled to plate Hvozdovic and then Mariconda stole second base for her third swipe of the game, tying the school record. Jessica Everhart drove both Rhodes and Mariconda in with a single to make it 9-4.

Rhodes led the way with four hits, tying her career high once again. It’s the third time this year she’s had four hits in a game. She also drove in two runs, scored two runs and stole two bases for her 25^th purloin of the year. Mariconda had three hits, scored two runs, stole three bases and drove in a run. Beth Walker and Davis (2 RBI) each had a pair of hits while Everhart (2 RBI), Graham (2 RBI) and Amber Walker each had one hit.

In the circle, Kenzie Roark (W, 10-11) went the first four innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Graham threw the final three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts to pick up her first save.

With her run scored in the first inning, Mariconda joined the 200-100-100 club at Tech. She became just the fifth player in program history to record at least 200 hits, drive in 100 runs and score 100 runs in her career.

Tech (5-5 ACC) and BC (1-6 ACC) will be back in action on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at noon. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the Park and fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the cause.