Gardner-Webb hosted one of the nation's top teams Wednesday night from Brinkley Softball Stadium.
Virginia Tech used a lead-off homerun to take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.
The Runnin' Bulldogs punched back, scoring a run of their own in the first.
Kasey Fava walked, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Adrienne Visintine then doubled down the left field line to score Fava from second and even the scoring.
Both teams went three up, three down in the second, before the Hokies opened things up in the third. They scored five runs and took the lead 6-1.
Gardner-Webb responded again in the bottom of the inning.
Emily Garcia and Fava both singled, and then Garcia scored from an error.
Andrea Lyon came up and hit a ball to the shortstop which allowed Fava to score and bring the 'dogs within three.
Virginia Tech would go on to add eight runs and take the standalone game in Boiling Springs Wednesday.
Fava, Visintine, Garcia, and
Kayleigh Nicholson all registered hits. Nicholson, Garcia, and Fava all hit singles, and Visintine doubled with an RBI.
Gardner-Webb pitched all three of its freshmen with
Alli Stidham starting,
Kalyn Kyle taking over in the fourth, and
Clara Wyatt throwing the final five outs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will stay home and host North Carolina Central in a three-game series beginning on Saturday, March 11. They will play a doubleheader with the first pitch being at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, before they wrap up the series Sunday at noon.
