March 21, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Pitchers Evan Fredrickson and Scott Stoehr combined on a two-hit shutout as Virginia Tech snapped Longwood University's nine-game winning streak with a 5-0 victory at English Field on Wednesday.

Frederickson, a 6-5 lefty from Oak Hill, Va., pitched seven complete innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out a career-high 10 batters and walking six. Frederickson gave up a single to Longwood catcher John Quigley with two outs in the top of the first inning and then allowed a single by pinch hitter David Smiy, Jr., with two outs in the seventh. Stoehr came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, striking out three men and walking one. Frederickson improved to 2-0 with the win.

The Hokies (14-8) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning. Catcher Matt Foley (Lansdowne, Va.) drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Sean O'Brien.(Chappaqua, N.Y.). Third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) followed with a single to bring Foley home.

Tech gave Frederickson some extra breathing room in the fifth inning. An infield single by Thomas, with O'Brien on first, resulted in a run when Lancers' shortstop Frank Berry made an errant throw to second base. O'Brien scored on the error and Thomas advanced all the way to third base. Following a walk to designated hitter Adam Redd (Dumfries, Va.), Thomas came home as right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) grounded into a fielder's choice.

A double by second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.), followed by a sacrifice bunt by Foley and a sacrifice fly by O'Brien provided another Tech run in the sixth inning. The Hokies final score came in eighth win freshman left fielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.) smacked his second double of the game and scored on a single by center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.).

Thomas had three of Tech's seven hits, while Bumbry added two. O'Brien drew three walks in the game to go with his sacrifice fly.

Longwood starting pitcher Alan Moore took the loss. Moore is 0-1 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over five innings.

Tech is scheduled to return to action on Friday afternoon at 3 when it opens a three-game ACC series against North Carolina at English Field.