March 30, 2013
Hokies split with North Carolina
Banks picks up four hits on the day
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(24) Virginia Tech (19-7) 2010310790
North Carolina (24-13) 20300016100
  • Anderson Stadium
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(24) Virginia Tech (19-8) 0000010140
North Carolina (25-13) 002030X591
  • Anderson Stadium - 958

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (hokiesports.com) - The 24th-ranked Virginia Tech softball team split with the University of North Carolina Saturday at Anderson Stadium, rallying to win the first game 7-6 before falling in the second game 5-1. North Carolina won the series 2-1 with the Saturday split after winning Friday’s game 3-2.

In the first game, Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Kylie McGoldrick’s two-run home run, but the Tar Heels scored two of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Tech took a 3-2 lead in the third inning on a solo home run by senior Courtney Liddle, but UNC scored three in the bottom of the third to take its first lead of the game.

That’s the way it would stand until the fifth inning. With one out, McGoldrick singled and moved up on a walk by Liddle before scoring on Kat Banks’ double. Amanda Ake drew a walk to load the bases and then pinch hitters Dani Anderson and Bailey Liddle both drew bases-loaded walks to give Tech the lead. McGoldrick hit her second home run of the game in the sixth inning to make it a two-run lead. North Carolina hit a solo home run with two outs in the seventh, but couldn’t get anything more as the Hokies held on for the 7-6 victory.

McGoldrick had three hits (two home runs) and three RBIs with three runs scored while Banks also had three hits. Lauren Gaskill, Courtney Liddle and Ake also had a hit.

Jasmin Harrell got the start and went 2.1 innings in picking up the no decision. She allowed four runs on four hits with two walks. Maggie Tyler went 1/3 of an inning, giving up a run on three hits with a walk. Kelly Heinz was the pitcher of record, picking up the win. She went 4.1 innings, allowing a run on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

The second game went UNC’s way as the Tar Heels scored two runs in the third inning on a home run and tacked on three more in the fifth inning. Tech’s lone run came on an RBI triple from Logan Spaw, who drove in Banks in the sixth inning.

Heinz (L, 10-3) went four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout while Harrell went two innings, giving up a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Tech mustered just four hits at the plate, one apiece from Gaskill, Banks, Spaw and Bkaye Smith.

The Hokies dropped to 19-8 overall, 1-4 in the ACC while the Tar Heels improved to 25-13, 6-3 in the conference.

Virginia Tech will return to action on Tuesday, hosting UNCG in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Admission to Tech Softball Park is free.

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

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