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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Virginia Tech softball team jumped out to a 5-1 lead and held on for a 6-5 win over UNC Wilmington Sunday morning on the final day of the 49er Round Robin at the Phillips Complex.

Tech jumped on the Seahawks in the first inning with a three spot. Richelle McGarva walked and Dani Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice before junior Kristen Froehlich crushed a three-run home run down the left field line, her second round-tripper of the season. UNCW scored a run on an error in the bottom of the first inning to make it 3-1.

In the second inning, Bkaye Smith scored on a bases-loaded walk and then Ashton Ward scored when Froehlich reached on an error to make it 5-1. The Seahawks threatened in the second inning, but McGarva made a spectacular play in left field, laying out to rob a sure double and then hopping up to double the runner off second base to end the inning.

Ashton Ward pitched the first four innings and then went to center field, leading 5-1. Freshman Kat Banks was put in to pitch, and gave up two runs, only one of which was earned, before Thomas was forced to put Ward back in to stop the rally. The Seahawks cut the deficit to 5-3, but Ward got out of the jam.

After scoring five runs in the first two innings, the Hokies weren’t able to get anything going until the seventh inning when Froehlich drove in Courtney Liddle from first base with a double to the gap, her fifth RBI of the game. It was a big one as UNCW rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and had runners on second and third base, but reliever Jasmin Harrell struck out Lauryn Buckworth to end the game.

Ward got credit for pitching 6.1 innings. She allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Banks didn’t record an out, but gave up two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk. Harrell (S, 1) pitched 2/3 of an inning, picking up a strikeout that ended the game.

Betty Rose and Froehlich (5 RBI) led the way with two hits apiece while Ward and Banks had one.

Tech (3-0) will be in back in action at 2 o’clock in the championship game against the winner of the Iona/Charlotte game.

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