1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (4-1)	1	0	4	4	5	14	17	0
Western Carolina (0-1)	0	0	3	0	0	3	6	3
Athens, GA - 155 Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – The Virginia Tech softball team rolled to a 14-3 win in five innings over Western Carolina Friday in the opening game of the Red & Black Showcase at UGa Softball Complex.

Tech scored an unearned run in the first inning and tacked on four more in the third inning. A two-RBI double by Kristin Graham highlighted the stanza. After giving up three runs in the third, Tech battled back in the fourth when Misty Hall connected on her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field to make it 7-3. An RBI single by Ashton Ward – her third hit of the game – drove in Graham and a single by Kristen Froehlich plated Ward.

Richelle McGarva drove in Bkaye Smith with a single up the middle in the fifth and Graham drove in two more with another single. A single by Froehlich made it 14-3 and was the last run scored in the drubbing.

For the game, the Hokies pounded out 17 hits, led by three apiece from Smith, Graham and Ward. McGarva and Froehlich each had a pair of hits while Sarah Ashby (first career), Whitney Davis, Hall and Courtney Liddle each had one. Graham chipped in a career-high four RBI

Ward got the start in the circle and went 2.2 innings. She allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. She was relieved in the third inning by freshman Jasmin Harrell, who went the rest of the way to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. She allowed just two hits in 2.1 innings of work with four punchouts.

Tech (4-1) will finish the first day of action later, taking on No. 8/6 Georgia (3-1) at 3:30 p.m.