May 2, 2006

Box Score

Virginia Tech 10, VCU 4

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech broke open a tie game with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and never trailed as the Hokies defeated Virginia Commonwealth University, 10-4, in collegiate baseball action Tuesday night at English Field. The Hokies are now 18-27 overall, while the Rams fall to 24-19.

The Hokies opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, designated hitter Luke Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.) singled to left and scored on a double to left-center by right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.).

Tech added to the lead in the bottom of the third inning when shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) homered to left with one out. VCU got a run back in the top of the fourth inning when center fielder Joe Meador hit a home run to left field.

The Hokies increased the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning when left fielder Billy Marn (Yorktown, Va.) reached on a fielding error, advanced to third on an infield single by second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.) and scored on a double-play groundout.

VCU scored again in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, left fielder Kwan Evans singled and moved to third base on a failed pick-off attempt by starter Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.). Evans then scored on an infield single by second baseman Scott Sizemore. After Sizemore stole both second and third base, he tied the score at 3-3 on first baseman Jared Bolden's single up the middle.

Tech broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Catcher Matt Foley (Lansdowne, Va.) doubled to left center to lead off the inning. With one out, Schaeffer walked and with two outs, both Foley and Schaeffer scored on a double down the left field line by first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.). After the Hokies loaded the bases when Marn was hit by a pitch and Hacker singled to right. Padgett then cleared the bases with a single to left field, knocking in O'Brien and Marn. Hacker scored on the play on a fielding error by Evans, that also allowed Padgett to advance to third. Padgett then scored on a bunt-single by Cueto.

With the score 9-3, VCU cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, right fielder Trai Harris and shortstop Sergio Miranda walked. After right-hander Randy Buffington (Virginia Beach, Va.) relieved Ballard, Evans singled Harris home. Tech got the run back in the bottom of the sixth when O'Brien singled with one out and scored on a double to the gap in left center by Marn.

Ballard went five and two-thirds innings to improve his record to 3-2 for the season, allowing nine hits, walking four and striking out four. Brett Walker took the loss in relief for the Rams, falling to 1-6 on the season.

Tech out-hit the Rams, 12-11, but the Rams committed four errors on the night. O'Brien, Padgett and Cueto drove in two runs apiece to lead a balanced offensive attack for the Hokies. Schaeffer, O'Brien, Padgett, Cueto and Hacker had two hits each for Tech.

The Hokies return to action on Wednesday night, as they host Liberty at 7 p.m. at English Field.