Box Score

VT 8, Maryland 7

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - When the Hokies took the field against Maryland on Friday, they had zero ACC wins and first baseman Sean O'Brien had zero home runs. Just over two and a half hours later, though, both goose eggs were gone as O'Brien blasted a career-high three round trippers to lead the orange and maroon to a one-run victory over the Terps at English Field.

The redshirt senior went yard in three consecutive at bats - the last two of which gave Tech a lead, including the final 8-7 margin - to tally five RBIs and bump the Hokies (11-18, 1-12 ACC) to their third straight win. It was the first time a Hokie hit three dingers in a game since Brad Bauder tied a school record with four against Georgetown in 2002.

O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) paced a 12-hit Hokie attack that also saw catcher Anthony Sosnoskie (Front Royal, Va.) and right fielder Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va.) collect two hits apiece. Sophomore Josh Wymer (3-4, Fort Worth, Texas) picked up the win for Tech in his first relief appearance, throwing 2.2 innings of three-hit ball while allowing two runs and striking out a pair. Freshman Justin Wright (Chesterfield, Va.) retired the final batter to pick up his first save after earning his first victory on Tuesday.

Adam Kolarek (1-1) took the loss for Maryland (16-14, 3-10 ACC), which was led at the plate by designated hitter Jensen Pupa's three hits and third baseman Mike Murphy's two-run home run.

Wymer took over for junior Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.), who got a rare start after seeing all of his action since 2006 out of the bullpen. The submariner exited the game after throwing six innings with five hits, five runs (three earned), three walks and six strikeouts.

Four of those runs were surrendered in the top of the first inning, as Maryland's Steve Braun led off with a walk on four pitches to open the game. After Pupa reached on a single, Murphy laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a wild throw to first base by Sosnoskie. Braun came around to score on the error, while Murphy and Pupa advanced to second and third, respectively. Catcher Chad Durakis' ground out to second scored Pupa, and a triple by left fielder Gerry Spessard plated Murphy. Spessard raced home with the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Will Greenberg and Joe Palumbo sandwiched doubles around a sacrifice bunt by AJ Casario to produce another Maryland run in the fourth inning.

O'Brien got the Hokies on the board with his first homer - a solo shot to right center - that started the bottom of the fourth inning. Tech added a second run in the frame when Sosnoskie reached on an infield single and took second on a throwing error. After advancing to third on a flyout, Sosnoskie scored as designated hitter Matt Blow (Richmond, Va.) grounded out.

An inning later, Tech struck for four runs - all with two outs - to take a brief lead, and O'Brien was the catalyst once again for the Hokies. After Maryland starting pitcher Scott Swinson hit center fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.) with a two-out pitch, O'Brien smacked his second homer of the game, this time to left field. Sosnoskie followed with a double and scored the tying run when Reed added a double of his own. Sophomore outfielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.) singled home Reed to put Tech up 6-5.

Wymer took over for Ballard to open the seventh inning and surrendered a two-run homer to Murphy, but O'Brien countered once again for Tech in the bottom half. The senior captain followed a lead-off double by Ryan with his third round-tripper of the day to provide the Hokies' last two runs and set the final margin.

The two schools are scheduled to play game two of the series on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.