Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech softball squad will travel to the Georgia State First Pitch Classic for four games this weekend at Bob Heck Field in the area dubbed “Panthersville.” For directions to the complex, visit Georgia State’s Web site.
Last weekend, the Hokies opened with a pair of wins, beating Maine and Troy, but lost their last three games and fell out of the top 25 polls. Jenna Rhodes was named to the all-tournament team at the Chattanooga Challenge after hitting .412. Charisse Mariconda hit .357 and Jessica Everhart drew 10 walks in five games.
The Hokies will open on Saturday against 17th-ranked Missouri at 2:30 p.m., followed by a game against the host Panthers at 4:45. On Sunday, Tech will play Evansville at 10 a.m., and will then have to wait and see when it plays again. After the four teams play a round-robin format, the teams are then seeded on Sunday for one contest (3 vs. 4 at 2:30; 1 vs. 2 at 4:45).
Tech will be without starting centerfielder Richelle McGarva for most likely the rest of the season as she suffered a lateral dislocation of her left ankle Tuesday in practice and had emergency surgery that night.
Missouri and Evansville will be opening their seasons this weekend. Georgia State is 0-3 thus far. The Panthers were swept in a doubleheader by Georgia Tech, 8-1 and 7-1 and then lost 6-0 at Auburn on Wednesday.
There will be no audio broadcast of games this weekend, but live stats for all four games will be available on hokiesports.com.