1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Charlotte (1-1)	0	0	5	0	0	5	5	2
Virginia Tech (1-0)	1	7	8	0	X	16	13	3
Phillips Complex Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (2-0)	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	5	12	1
Iona (1-1)	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	5	1
Charlotte, NC Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Using 21 runs and 25 hits, the Virginia Tech softball team picked up a pair of victories to open the season at the 49er Round Robin, beating Charlotte 16-5 in five innings and Iona 5-3.

In the opener against the host 49ers, Ashton Ward got things started right with a triple to right field in the bottom of the first inning and the Charlotte native scored on a wild pitch to give the Hokies the early lead.

The Hokies widened their lead in the second inning with seven runs. Freshman Kat Banks drew a walk and stole second base before being driven in by a Kristina Cruz triple. Cruz scored on Richelle McGarva’s single up the middle to make it 3-0. The Hokies loaded the bases for Kristen Froehlich, who crushed an offering over the right-center fence for her first grand slam, making it 7-0. Banks picked up her first collegiate hit with an RBI single to center to drive in Betty Rose, who reached on a double.

Some sloppy fielding by the Hokies, coupled with some timely hits from the 49ers, led to Charlotte plating five runs in the third to make it 8-5. But Tech responded with eight runs in the bottom of the third. Dani Anderson drove in two with a single to right field and then Courtney Liddle drive in two more with a double to the gap to make it 12-5. Liddle scored on a wild pitch and Cruz scored on a Cruz single. Cruz and Bkaye Smith scored on Ward’s single to make it 16-5, thus breaking the program record for runs scored in a season-opening game.

The run support was plenty for senior Kenzie Roark (W, 1-0) who was superb except for the one inning. She went the full five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

At the plate, four players had multiple hits: Ward (2 RBI), Anderson (2 RBI), Froehlich (4 RBI) and Cruz (2 RBI). McGarva had a hit and an RBI, Liddle had a hit and two RBI, Banks had a hit and an RBI and both Smith and Rose had a hit.

In the second game, Iona jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning off Tech starter Jasmin Harrell, but the Hokies settled down and made a nice comeback. Tech scored a run in the second inning on a single from Cruz and a run in the third inning to tie it up on a groundout from Liddle, and then took the lead in the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk. In the sixth inning, Anderson came through with a big double and then Ward doubled in a run to make it 5-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. There, Iona made a furious comeback, loading the bases. Roark gave up a run, but got a groundout to end the game.

Harrell got the start, but lasted just 1.2 innings after giving up two runs on two hits and four walks. Roark (W, 2-0) came in and shut down the Gaels the rest of the way. She went 5.1 innings, allowing a run on three hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Liddle led the way with three hits and an RBI while Ward (RBI), Anderson (RBI), Smith and Cruz (RBI) had two hits apiece and Banks had one.

Tech will be back in action on Sunday, taking on UNC Wilmington (0-2) at 10 a.m. Tech will then play in the championship game at 2 o’clock against either Charlotte or Iona.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Softball).