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 Virginia Tech (1-0) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
 South Florida (0-2) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
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TAMPA, Fla. - Led by pitcher Chelsea Whitcomb, the Virginia Tech softball team secured the first win of the season, 6-3, against the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida for the premiere game of the USF-Wilson DeMarini tournament.
“It was a great opening win and a great team win,” head coach Scot Thomas said. “I’m really proud of our girls. Chelsea [Whitcomb], having not thrown in over a year, threw 6.1 great innings. Then Maggie [Tyler] came in and did what she needed to do. We had quality at-bats all game. We’re going to use this and keep moving forward.”
Tech won its 14th season opener on Friday night, handing USF its second loss of the day.
In Whitcomb’s Tech softball debut, the red-shirt freshmen hit back-to-back doubles in addition to tossing 6.1 innings with four strikeouts. Whitcomb accounted for two of Tech’s four total RBI with her second double coming in the third inning to widen Tech’s lead.
Veteran Maggie Tyler came in to relief Whitcomb two outs away from the win. The senior responded with consecutive strikeouts to clinch the win.
Bats were alive from the start for the Hokies. Leadoff hitter Breanna Davenport singled, stole, then advanced home on a wild pitch. Vanessa Gonzalez followed suit, leading off the second inning with a deep homerun to left field.
Despite Tech’s 5-1 lead entering the seventh inning, Katey Smith singled up the middle to bring Davenport home and lengthen the lead to 6-1.
USF showed their fight in both the fourth and sixth innings. However, a bunt to Kelsey Mericka, driving catch by Caitlyn Nolan, and fly-out to Gonzalez held off the Bulls in the fourth. A homerun by Sam Worrell added two runs for USF late in the inning, bringing in Tyler as relief for Whitcomb.
The Hokies allowed a mere three runs throughout the contest, to secure the win on opening day.
Tech faces a quick turnaround, taking on South Carolina Saturday morning at 9 a.m. for the second game of the tournament.
For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball
