DAVIDSON, N.C. - Ty Hohman's first hit as a Hokie broke a 9-9 tie in the top of the eighth inning and helped Virginia Tech to a 14-10 victory over Davidson College on Wednesday afternoon at Wilson Stadium.

After trailing by six runs early in the game, Tech battled back to within a run heading into the eighth. Center fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.) was hit by pitch to start what would turn out to be a six-run inning for Tech. Ryan stole second base and move to third on a throwing error by Davidson's catcher. Senior first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) singled home Ryan to tie the game and advanced to second when catcher Anthony Sosnoskie (Front Royal, Va.) became the second hit batsman of the inning. Designated hitter Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) put down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a late throw to third base in an attempt to retire O'Brien. With the bases loaded, Hohman, a junior transfer from Tomball, Texas, laced a single that brought home two runs. After right fielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.) drew his third walk of the game, second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.) plated a run with a groundout down the first-base line. Third baseman Matt Blow (Richmond, Va.) then followed with another two-run single to give the Hokies a 14-9 advantage.

Davidson provided all the offense in the early going, scoring nine runs on 11 hits during the first three innings for a 9-3 lead. All 11 hits and nine runs came off Tech starter Rob Whitley (Danville, Va.).

The Hokies' fortunes began to turn in that third inning when freshman right-hander Justin Wright (Chesterfield, Va.) took over on the mound. Wright entered the game with the bases load and nobody out and managed to get out of the inning with just one run scoring.

In the top of the fourth, Tech's bats came to life as it used four hits, three walks and an error to post five runs. The inning featured run-scoring singles by Ryan, O'Brien and Sosnoskie.

Suddenly, the Wildcats' lead was only one run and Wright kept it that way. The young southpaw worked three more innings without allowing a run, giving him a pitching line of four innings, two hits, no runs, seven strikeouts and one walk. In the sixth, Wright allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs, but pitched out of the jam without a runner touching the plate. He turned things over to senior David Cross (Scottsdale, Ariz.) to start the seventh.

Cross gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth, but earned the victory with his two innings of work. Junior Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.) pitched the final inning for the Hokies. Tech's four pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in the game.

Ten different players contributed to Tech's 14-hit attack. Sosnoskie led the way with three, while O'Brien and freshman left fielder Austin Wates (Richmond, Va.) finished with two each. O'Brien, Sosnoskie, Hohman and Blow drove in two runs apiece.

Davidson reliever Mike Frongello (0-1) took the loss. The Wildcats finished the contest with 17 hits, including four by lead-off hitter Hugh Eden. Jay Honeycutt had a two-run homer during a five-run Davidson second inning and chipped in a total of three hits and three RBIs.

Tech is scheduled to open its home schedule on Friday with a 3 pm., game against Central Connecticut State at English Field.