March 9, 2012
Tech trips up twice in Tampa
Hokies look to regroup Saturday in Clearwater
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Penn State (7-9) 200301118112
Virginia Tech (13-8) 01000330742
  • Tampa, FL - 289
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Virginia Tech (13-9) 0000000010
South Florida (17-4) 000200X240
  • USF Softball Stadium - 215

TAMPA, Fla. - The Virginia Tech softball team dropped a pair of games on the first day of the USF Under Armour Showcase Friday at the USF Softball Stadium. The Hokies rallied against Penn State but fell 8-7 in eight innings before being shut out 2-0 by USF in the second game of the day.

In the opener, Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Betty Rose drove in a run to make it 2-1. The Nittany Lions plated three runs in the fourth inning on a bases loaded double to make it 5-1 and scored a run in the sixth inning on a Tech error. Tech responded with three runs in the sixth inning to make things manageable going into the seventh inning. In the sixth, Logan Spaw doubled in a pair of runs and then Rose drove in a run with another single. In the seventh, PSU got a big run to make it 7-4 heading to the last half inning.

In the seventh stanza, Courtney Liddle walked and Kelsey Mericka reached on a fielder’s choice to bring Kristen Froehlich up and the senior responded with a three-run home run to left to tie it up. Tech couldn’t get anything more, sending the game to extra innings. There, Penn State scored on a single while Tech failed to move its runner, falling 8-7.

Rose led the way with two hits while Froehlich and Spaw each had one. In the circle, Bailey Liddle went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Isabella Corrao went 1.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits with two walks while Lauren Darden went 1.1 innings, allowing an unearned run on a hit with a walk. Jasmin Harrell was the tough-luck loser, giving up the run in extra innings. She went 1.2 innings, giving up two hits with a strikeout.

After a break, the Hokies re-took the field to play USF, which is ranked 23rd in one poll and 28th in another. Tech couldn’t get anything going offensively, picking up just one hit (Courtney Liddle) while striking out eight times.

Harrell (L, 8-5) pitched extremely well except for a pair of solo home runs she allowed in the fourth inning. She threw six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Tech (13-9) will have to regroup quickly as it plays two more games Saturday. At 4:15 p.m., Tech will play Toledo and will then take on Miami University at 6:30 p.m. Both of those games will be played at the E.C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.

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

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