Box Score

VT 11, Liberty 1

 

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech extended its non-conference winning streak to six games by pounding out 16 hits and allowing just four to defeat Liberty University 11-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Worthington Stadium.

Now winners of eight of their last 11 games, the Hokies improved to 16-21 overall while the Flames, who paid tribute to the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy with a moment of silence, a prayer and a balloon release, dropped to 18-18.

As good as Tech's hitting was in this one, the Hokies' pitching was even better, as four hurlers combined to allow just five base runners on four hits, zero walks and one error. In fact, Tech retired 19 of the last 20 batters it faced, including 13 in a row at one point.

Sophomore Josh Wymer (4-4, Fort Worth, Texas) was credited with the win after entering in the fourth and tossing 3.1 perfect innings with three punch-outs. Senior David Cross (Scottsdale, Ariz.) started and threw 3.2 innings with two strikeouts, redshirt sophomore Rob Waskiewicz (Manchester, Md.) allowed just one hit in his frame of work, and redshirt freshman Brandon Fisher (New Castle, Va.) threw a perfect ninth in his first appearance since March 22.

Offensively, first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.), center fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.), second baseman Austin Wates (Richmond, Va.) and shortstop Tony Balisteri (Lexington, Va.) each recorded two hits, while O'Brien and Balisteri both drove in three runs. Third baseman Michael Seaborn scored a team-high three times.

Tech jumped out to a comfortable 7-1 lead with four runs in the second inning and three in the third. The first four came off of Liberty starter Tyler Light (1-2). Right fielder Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va.) and designated hitter Matt Blow (Richmond, Va.) each singled and scored on a Balisteri base-knock, while Seaborn, who had walked, and Balisteri came around to touch home on a double by O'Brien.

Liberty's lone run came in the top of the third from David Giammaresi on a Garrett Young single, but Tech answered right back in the bottom half thanks to a two-run double by Seaborn and an RBI single by left fielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.).

The Hokies put the game away with a four-run eighth inning against the seventh of eight pitchers used by Liberty on the day.

Tech will play host to N.C. State this weekend for a three-game ACC series at English Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m.