Virginia Tech 6, ETSU 5
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Alex Perez accounted for all six of Virginia Tech’s runs and it was his two-out, two-run-scoring triple in the top of the ninth that rallied the Hokies to a 6-5 win over ETSU on Wednesday night at Thomas Stadium.
Perez, who went 3-for-4 with the game-winning hit, drove in all six Virginia Tech (18-20) runs as he had a sac-fly RBI in the third, drove in two with a single to right-center in the fifth, tacked on another RBI single in the seventh and plated the winning runs with the triple to right-center in the ninth.
Despite scoring the game’s first run in the second and taking a 5-4 lead into the top of the ninth, ETSU (14-21) couldn’t close things out. Senior right-hander Jimmy Nesselt struck out two of the three Hokie hitters he faced in the eighth but allowed a leadoff single to Ryan Tufts in the ninth and issued a one-out walk to Phil Sciretta; however, after striking out Rahiem Cooper for the second out of the inning, Perez delivered the back-breaker as he sent a 2-1 pitch to the gap in right-center for the two-run triple.
Nesselt, who was coming off a win following his 11-strikeout performance in his last start at VMI, suffered the loss (4-4) after being charged with two runs on two hits in two innings, while freshman right-hander Ryan Simpler faced some tough luck in his start. Simpler allowed three unearned runs on two hits in 4 2/3 innings.
In total, three of the six runs allowed by the Buccaneer pitching staff were unearned as ETSU’s defense tied a season high with four errors.
Offensively, the Blue and Gold only totaled five hits and took advantage of two Virginia Tech errors.
ETSU was led by senior Zach Thompson and junior Trey York. Thompson finished 1-for-2 with one walk, one run and an RBI as he executed a squeeze bunt to perfection to tie the game at 3 in a two-run sixth inning. The Buccaneer senior outfielder also extended his hit streak to seven straight games following a leadoff double in the second and scored the first run of the night on Christian Bailey’s RBI groundout. Meanwhile, York extended his streak of reaching base safely to 13 straight games as he went 1-for-3 with two walks and scored on Kevin Phillips’ RBI double in the sixth. Sophomore Chris Cook registered his 100th career hit with his first-inning single, while it also extend his streak of reaching safely to 19 consecutive games.
The Bucs had chances to increase their lead but ETSU went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and only recorded one two-out hit.
In the seventh, the Bucs had runners on second and third after Jeremy Taylor drove in Bailey with a double to right to tie the game at 4, and after Taylor moved to third on a wild pitch, York walked and stole second to continue the threat. Unfortunately for the Bucs, Phillips struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the inning.
An inning later, the Blue and Gold had runners on second and third with one out, but only scratched across one run. Andrew Lasure came through with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to left, which scored Jordan Sanford to give ETSU its only lead of the night, 5-4.
Following Perez’s clutch two-out triple in the top of the ninth, York reached on a one-out walk and stole second in the bottom half of the inning, but he was left stranded when Sean Kennedy induced Sanford into a game-ending groundout.
Kennedy (2-4) tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while starter Packy Naughton allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings.
Tufts joined Perez with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 with one double and scored two runs, while Logan Bible also scored a pair of runs.
The Bucs continue their five-game homestand as ETSU opens a three-game conference series with Samford on Friday at 6:05 p.m.
Richmond 10, VMI 5
LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts, but the Richmond Spiders scored in seven of the nine innings and went on to a 10-5 victory over the Keydets in nonconference baseball action Wednesday night.
The Keydets (10-20) held a brief 4-3 lead after two innings, but Richmond (19-11) tied it in the third and took the lead for good one inning later. Daniel Brumbaugh reached on a throwing error by second baseman Jacob Jaye with one out, and that brought Matthew Eagle on in relief of Jack Gomersall. After a strikeout, Michael Morman doubled down the left-field line to score Brumbaugh and make it a 5-4 game, giving the Spiders a lead they would not surrender.
Gomersall (1-1) took the loss for the Keydets, as he gave up two runs (one earned) in 1 2/3 innings. Peter Bayer (1-3) allowed just one walk in two innings.
Richmond jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the first and added on an unearned run on a single by Tyler Beckwith in the second for a 3-0 lead.
The Keydets responded with four runs in the second to take the lead. Will Connerley was hit by a pitch to open the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Matt Winn walked and one out later, Collin Fleischer doubled home a run to make it a 3-1 game. After Jaye flew out to center field, Lopez doubled home two runs and Jordan Tarsovich gave the Keydets the lead with a single to left.
UR tied the game in the third on an RBI single by Kyle Adams then went ahead in the fourth before pulling away with a 3-spot in the sixth. Daniel Brumbaugh had a solo home run with one out and a two-run double by Tanner Stanley made it 8-4, Richmond.
The Keydets got a run back on a titanic home run by Winn, his eighth of the year, that made it 8-5, but the Spiders scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to account for the final margin.
Neither starter figured in the decision on a staff day, as Andrew Woods left the game in the second inning and Justin Garcia completed just two frames.
Offensively, five different players had two hits apiece to lead UR. Brumbaugh scored four runs for the Spiders and Lopez paced VMI with a 2-for-4 night that included two doubles.
VMI will return to action this weekend, when the Keydets open a series against former Big South foe Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m.
Mercer vs. Georgia Southern canceled
MACON, Ga. – Due to steady rain in the Macon area throughout the day, the Mercer University baseball team's midweek contest against in-state rival Georgia Southern this evening has been canceled.
The game will not be rescheduled, marking the second straight contest the Bears have lost due to inclement weather conditions.
Mercer continues Southern Conference play this weekend, as it takes a league-leading 9-3 SoCon record to Spartanburg, S.C. for a three-game series with Wofford.
UNCG at Duke canceled
DURHAM, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team's nonconference contest at Duke scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. has been called off due to inclement weather.
The Spartans arrived in Durham and both teams began to warm up before Duke officials made the decision to cancel the game.
UNCG returns to action Friday, opening a three-game Southern Conference series against The Citadel. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN mobile app.
Western Carolina vs. Tennessee Tech canceled
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Due to inclement weather and unfavorable playing conditions at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, Western Carolina’s home baseball game against Tennessee Tech scheduled for Wednesday night has been canceled.
No makeup date has been announced. The two are scheduled to play in Cookeville, Tenn., on Monday, May 11, with first pitch at 5 p.m.
Heavy rain overnight followed by persistent, steady showers Wednesday afternoon on a covered but already saturated field prompted officials to make the decision to cancel the game early in the afternoon hours.
Western Carolina (15-17, 7-5 Southern Conference) returns home to host the Furman Paladins (16-19, 5-7 SoCon) for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend in Cullowhee beginning on Friday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Wofford vs. USC Upstate canceled
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Due to rain, the Wofford College baseball game against USC Upstate scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at Russell C. King Field has been canceled.
The two teams will play next Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Harley Park, which will be the lone between the teams during the 2015 season.
Wofford (27-12, 5-4 SoCon) will return to action on Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. against Mercer. The Bears currently lead the Southern Conference with a 9-3 record (22-15 overall).