Courtesy of DAVE KNACHEL

Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher pitches in the first game of the Hokies' doubleheader on Tuesday.

Photos courtesy of DAVE KNACHEL

Virginia Tech's Erin Ota (left) tries to score in front of Radford catcher Sarah Himan.

Courtesy of Dave Knatchel | Virginia Tech

Angela Tincher struck out 17 batters to lead the Hokies over Radford.

BLACKSBURG -- No. 1 is now tied for No. 1 on the ACC's career wins list.

And this time it's true.

Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher picked up her 109th victory in the first game of a doubleheader sweep of Radford on Tuesday.

The 19th-ranked Hokies won the first game 3-1 and the second 13-3 on a windy day at Tech Softball Park.

Tincher, who wears jersey No. 1, tied former Georgia Tech ace Jessica Sallinger atop the ACC list for career victories. The James River graduate can break the mark in today's doubleheader against Liberty.

"It's definitely a meaningful record," said Tincher, a senior whose parents and sister were in attendance. "I remember playing against her when I was a freshman. She was such a great pitcher, and that's a big record. It's a big achievement, and exciting."

Virginia Tech had incorrectly announced Sunday that Tincher tied the record when she beat Boston College that day. Virginia Tech was under the mistaken impression that the record was 108 wins.

Tincher (24-5), who had only one scholarship offer when she was in high school, never imagined she would be so successful when she began her college career.

"That seems like a lot [of wins]," Tincher said. "Four years has gone so fast. I can't believe it's been that many."

Tincher also started the second game. But the Hokies grabbed a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first, so coach Scot Thomas opted to save his All-American's arm and did not bring her back out for the second inning.

Tincher threw a two-hitter and struck out 17 batters in the first game, the 28th time in her career she has struck out at least 17. She notched her 1,900th strikeout in the game and finished the doubleheader with 1,905.

Tincher, who already was in third place on the NCAA Division I career strikeout list, is striving for 2,000.

"It's definitely a really big goal of mine," she said.

Tincher wasn't at her best in the first game; she walked five and threw 134 pitches. But she settled down and outdueled Radford ace Ashley Taylor (18-8), who had outshined Tincher when they were both 12-year-olds pitching in the Commonwealth Games.

"Radford did a good job of staying disciplined and making her throw the ball in the zone, but she's so good that when she works in the zone, she's still going to be very effective," Thomas said.

The Highlanders (30-13) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Sarah Himan walked and advanced on a Tincher wild pitch.

Pinch runner Larissa Williams scored on an RBI double by Jefferson Forest graduate Cassie Rhodes.

The Hokies (34-11) scored three runs off Taylor, the 2007 Big South pitcher of the year, in the fourth.

After an error and a fielder's choice, Charisse Mariconda hit an RBI double to left.

Kelsey Hoffman hit an RBI grounder and Misty Hall smacked a solo homer.

"A couple mistakes -- just didn't hit my spot like I was supposed to, or didn't get it out of the zone enough," said Taylor, who allowed three hits. Galax graduate Beth Walker had three hits and four RBIs for Tech in the second game, which lasted just 4¹₂ innings.

Taylor didn't pitch the second game. Radford's third pitcher of that game was former Cave Spring star Chelsea Kelley. The freshman gave up four runs in one inning.

Tech played Tuesday without center fielder Jessica Everhart, who is out for at least a week with an injured shoulder.