BLACKSBURG – Erin Ota’s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Virginia Tech softball team to a thrilling 7-6 win over Appalachian State Tuesday night at Tech Softball Park.

In the first inning, Jenna Rhodes reached on an infield single and promptly stole second base. She eventually scored on a wild pitch to give Tech the early lead. In the second inning, Kim Jalm singled and pinch runner Marra Hvozdovic scored on Rhodes’ infield single. Amber Walker also singled and pinch runner Alicia Field scored on a throwing error to make it 3-0.

Appalachian State (25-26) got on the board in the fourth with a single run and the Hokies countered in the bottom half of the inning when Ota reached on a fielding error, allowing Rhodes to score. The Mountaineers picked up three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning to tie things up before Tech plate two runs in the bottom of the fifth to re-take the lead. Whitney Davis, who reached on an error, scored on yet another ASU error and Walker came home on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Charisse Mariconda.

Leading 6-4 heading to the top of the seventh inning, Tech starter Kenzie Roark was unable to escape trouble as the Mountaineers scored two runs to knot things up. But in the bottom of the seventh, Tech’s hitters stepped up when it counted most. Kristin Graham drew a leadoff walk and pinch hitter Kristen Froehlich pushed a sacrifice bunt attempt to the hole for an infield single. Rhodes moved them over with a sacrifice bunt and Ota ended her career at Tech Softball Park with a chopping single that bounded over the pitcher’s head and into center field to end things.

At the plate, Rhodes picked up three more hits to add to her school-record total for the season of 81. She also stole two bases to break her own single-season mark that she set last season and now has 42 for the year. Ota picked up a three of singles, including the game winner, while Everhart, Jalm, Froehlich and Amber Walker each had a hit.

In the circle, Roark (W, 19-16) went the distance, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.

The game marked the final home contest for Tech’s six seniors – Ota, Everhart, Rhodes, Jalm, Mariconda and Beth Walker.

Tech (24-25) will be back in action on Thursday, taking on UNC Greensboro in a road doubleheader. First pitch will come at 5 o’clock.