AMHERST, Mass. -- UMass and Virginia Tech advanced into the Bell

Atlantic /

Atlantic 10 Championship final to be played May 13 at 11 a.m. at the

UMass Softball Complex. The Minutewomen, who now improve to 34-21

overall,

defeated the Hokies 6-2 in the first game of the day to continue their

undefeated streak in the tournament. In the second game, Dayton

downed

Temple 2-0, to advance into the third game with Virginia Tech. But the

Hokies came out victorious with a

1-0 win to advance into the championship final. Virginia Tech is now

41-21

this season. The Flyers finish the season at

34-23, while the Owls drop to 19-31.

UMass scored six runs in the first three innings, including a four-run

effort in the second, which proved too costly for the Hokies in the end.

Freshman Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, B.C.) paced the Minutewomen in

the

victory, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. UMass

sophomore Teri Rooney (Visalia, Calif.) batted 3-for-4 with one RBI and

two

runs scored. Virginia Tech recorded runs in both the second and seventh

innings, with senior Kara Krumhardt (White Rock, B.C.) driving in both

runs

for the Hokies. Holtz went the distance on the mound, striking out three

batters, while allowing eight hits and walking three in seven innings

pitched.

In game two, Dayton scored two runs in the first and second innings off

RBIs by seniors Melissa Mellott (Springfield, Ohio) and Joy Christopher

(Oak Park, Ill.). Temple failed to score, despite registering five hits in

the game and freshman Bari Lynn Pflueger (Allentown, Pa.) striking out

eight batters. Senior Sara Hatcher (Bellefontaine, Ohio) came away with

the

win, after striking out four batters, while allowing five hits and walking

none in seven innings pitched.

The third game between Virginia tech and Dayton featured a strong

pitching

outing from Hokie Ashlee Dobbe (North Vancouver, B.C.), who struck out

15

batters, while allowing three hits and walking none in seven innings. Both

squads went scoreless until the seventh inning, when Virginia Tech's

Krumhardt won the game after stealing third base and scoring at the plate

off a throwing error by the catcher. Krumhardt finished 2-for-4 in the

contest.