Virginia Tech vs Boston College Baseball Recap

(18) Virginia Tech 9, Boston College 4

On Friday, the Boston College Eagles rode into Blacksburg, Virginia, riding a nine-game winning streak that included two series sweeps over the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest and the Maryland Terrapins. However, that winning streak came to an abrupt end against the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Justin Wright started this game for Virginia Tech and held the Boston College batting order in check, allowing just five hits and one earned run in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Boston College countered with Mike Dennhardt, who struggled on Friday, allowing five runs (three earned) in just 5 2/3 innings.

The Hokies jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Austin Wates drove a Dennhardt fastball to center field, allowing Tech's Buddy Sosnoskie to score from third base. Boston College’s Matt Hamlet answered with a two-out double in the top of the third inning, scoring teammate Garrett Smith. The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth, when Tech's designated hitter Matt Blow pulled a fastball over the left field fence, netting the Hokies a 3-1 advantage. 

The Hokies' offense was able to dent the scoreboard again in the bottom of the sixth inning.  After two consecutive singles by Ronnie Shaban and Tim Smalling, Michael Seaborne grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed the two runners to move to second and third base.  Next, Blow made another contribution by driving a Dennhardt pitch into the outfield for a base hit, scoring Shaban and recording his third RBI on the day.  Then, Brent Zimmerman flied out to center field, but Smalling was able to slide across the plate to give the Hokies a commanding 5-1 lead.  Kevin Moran replaced Dennhardt at this point and was able to pitch the Eagles out of the inning on a Steve Domecus pop-up to the pitcher's mound.

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The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth when Hunter Gordon replaced Dave Laufer on the mound for the Eagles. Gordon struck out Blow to start off the inning but then nailed Zimmerman in the back, allowing him to walk to first base.  Next, Sean Ryan doubled, allowing Zimmerman to score from first.  After a Sosnoskie ground out, Gordon hit his second batter in the inning, allowing Domecus to reach safely. Wates then smashed a triple into the right field corner, clearing the bases and giving the Hokies an 8-1 lead.  Finally, Ronnie Shaban singled to round out the scoring for Tech. His base knock enabled the Hokies to move to the top of the ninth with a 9-1 advantage. 

The Eagles were able to score three in the top of the ninth on a Mike Sudol pinch-hit home run, but the Hokies' lead proved to be insurmountable as they took the first game in this series by five runs.

The Hokies and the Eagles will meet again tomorrow at English Field at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

By: Justin Clark
ACC Fans Guest Writer