April 15, 2005

Box Score

Tech 2, VCU 1

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ryan Kennedy pitched a complete game and catcher Matt Foley drove in both runs as Virginia Tech took a 2-1 win against Virginia Commonwealth University on Friday night at English Field.

Kennedy (Punta Gorda, Fla.) scattered nine hits in going the distance for his third win against four losses. The junior left-hander struck out three batters and walked just one. The Rams' only run off Kennedy came in the second inning when catcher Pete Farina smacked a double to left and eventually scored on a Tech error.

Tech (13-14) evened the score in the bottom the second when third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by freshman second baseman Matt Hacker (Glen Allen, Va.). After a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Chris Stanton (Centreville, Va.) moved the runners up, Foley (Lansdowne, Va.) grounded to second to score Thomas with the tying run.

The Hokies took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hacker recorded his second single of the night, was pushed to second by Stanton's second sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Foley.

Kennedy held the Rams (18-9) scoreless on five hits over the last seven innings and got some help from his defense which turned an inning-ending double play in the fifth and nailed two VCU runners at the plate.

The Rams challenged Kennedy and Foley in the top of the seventh, stealing third base twice. The first runner was picked off to record the second out of the inning, before Kennedy caught Sergio Miranda looking to end the inning with runners on the corners.

Hacker paced the Hokies with a 4-for-4 night that also included a run scored and a stolen base. VCU, which out-hit Tech 9-8, was led by Trai Harris, who was 3-for-4.

VCU starting pitcher Harold Mozingo (6-2) worked seven complete innings allowing seven hits and two runs, one of which was unearned.

Tech and VCU are scheduled to meet again Saturday night at 7. The two schools will complete their three-game series with a Sunday contest at 2 p.m.