February 21, 2005

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Sophomore Bryan Thomas went 5-for-5 with a school record four doubles to help Virginia Tech to an 11-7 victory over Savannah State in the final game of the Savannah State Invitational on Monday.

Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) doubled in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth innings and added a single in the seventh. He drove in runs with his doubles in the fourth and fifth innings and also scored runs in both of those innings. The Tech third baseman has now collected hits in seven consecutive at bats. The former school record of three doubles in a game was shared by many.

Thomas started a key four-run outburst with his RBI-double in the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) and second-year center fielder Nate Parks (Salem, Va.) contributed run-scoring singles in the inning as the Hokies took a 6-4 lead.

Tech (2-1) never trailed again in the contest, but Savannah State cut the Hokies' lead to one run on two occasions. Senior first baseman Chris Stanton (Centreville, Va.) finally gave Tech some welcomed breathing room with a clutch two-out, two-run triple in the seventh. Freshman designated hitter Jose Rojas (Paterson, N.J.) singled home Stanton to put the Hokies on top 11-7.

Pitcher Jake Chaney (Blowing Rock, N.C), who came on in relief of Tech starter Matt McGahey (Jonesborough, Tenn.) in the third inning, was touched for three quick runs but kept the Tigers at bay during his 5 1/3 innings. The senior right-hander finished out his stint with three shutout innings before freshman Randy Buffington (Virginia Beach, Va.) came in to pitch a scoreless ninth inning. Chaney (1-0) picked up the hard-earned win..

Tech finished the game with 17 hits. Thomas got help from Stanton, who had two hits and four runs batted in. The Hokies also got two hits from Parks, Rojas, freshman right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore catcher Matt Foley (Lansdowne, Va.).

Gerald Smith and William Johnson combined for seven hits and five runs batted in for Savannah State, which is now 10-4 on the season. Smith went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Johnson was 4-for-5 with two runs batted in. Both players contributed a two-run homer .

Tech will return to action Friday with a 3 p.m., game at Campbell University. The starting time for the game was originally set for 2.