April 20, 2013
Tech drops two to No. 23 Florida State
Program sets attendance record at Tech Softball Park
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(23) Florida State (35-15) 0000013490
Virginia Tech (27-13) 1000100240
  • Tech Softball Park
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(23) Florida State (36-15) 0123511101
Virginia Tech (27-14) 00000031
  • Tech Softball Park - 2,251

BLACKSBURG (hokiesports.com) - Despite a record crowd of 2,251 at Tech Softball Park on Saturday, the Virginia Tech softball team dropped a pair of games to No. 23 Florida State, falling 4-2 and 11-0 in five innings.

In the first game, Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Courtney Liddle doubled and was driven in by Kylie McGoldrick. The Hokies added a run in the fifth inning when Kat Banks legged out an infield single to plate pinch runner Nina Compton. The Seminoles got a run in the sixth inning and then erupted for three runs in the seventh inning to pull out the win.

In that seventh stanza, Tech starter Kelly Heinz (L, 13-4) didn’t get the benefit of a close check swing to leadoff batter Bailey Schinella on a 2-2 pitch and Schinella eventually walked. After a pair of outs which would have ended the game had the check swing been called, leadoff batter Victoria East blasted a two-run home run on a two-strike pitch to give FSU the lead. The Noles added one more in the inning to ice the win.

Tech had just four hits, one apiece from Courtney Liddle, Bailey Liddle, Banks and McGoldrick. Heinz went the distance, allowing four runs on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

In the second game, FSU came out swinging and put away the Hokies early, scoring in four of its five at bats to end the game early because of the mercy rule. Jasmin Harrell (L, 12-7) lasted just three innings, giving up six runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Maggie Tyler went an inning, giving up four runs on four hits with a walk while Bailey Liddle went the final inning. She allowed a run on no hits, but walked three.

Tech had just three hits in the game, one from Lauren Gaskill, Dani Anderson and Betty Rose.

With the sweep, Florida State improved to 36-15, 15-2 in the ACC. Tech fell to 27-14, 6-7 in the conference after dropping its fourth-straight game at home.

The attendance mark broke the previous record of 1,977 fans set on April 16, 2008 against NC State.

The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.

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

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