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BLACKSBURG (hokiesports.com) - Virginia Tech senior softball player Courtney Liddle was selected in the fifth round of Monday night’s National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Draft at the Ford Theatre located inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The NY/NJ Comets selected Liddle with the 18th pick overall, coming with the second pick of the fifth round.

"I'm just so excited for the incredible opportunity I've been given to play professionally," Liddle said. "I thank God, my family, Virginia Tech and the Comets for helping my childhood dreams come true right before my eyes. What a blessing it is to be able to keep playing the game that I love so much."

Liddle, a senior from Haymarket, Va., is currently ranked first in school history in career on base percentage (.465), second in career home runs (29), second in career walks (119), first in career hit by pitch (25), second in career slugging percentage (.567), fifth in career batting average (.320), ninth in career runs scored (105), ninth in career doubles (37), 10th in career total bases (290) and tied for fifth in career RBIs (116).

She is a two-time all-region and All-ACC performer who is batting .377 this year with three home runs, seven doubles and 17 RBIs already in just 27 games.

“What a great opportunity to a very deserved young lady and ball player,” Tech head coach Scot Thomas said. “Courtney will make an impact in the NPF from a playing standpoint and a character standpoint. The Comets got a good one!”

Liddle becomes the third Tech player to be taken in the pro softball draft. Bronwyn Blair was selected in the fifth round of the 2001 WPSL Draft and Angela Tincher was the No. 3 overall pick of the Akron Racers in the 2008 NPF Draft.

NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.

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