Virginia Tech vs Savannah State Baseball Recap

(16) Virginia Tech 7, Savannah State 0

A two-game weekend series is not something that will excite the fan base but it does prove just how far the Virginia Tech Hokies have come under head coach Pete Hughes.  A few years ago, this game and this series may have been a bit more competitive, but thanks to an influx of talent within the Hokies' baseball program, this series was a complete snoozer... in the best possible way and for the best possible reasons.

Savannah State, who plays as an independent, entered this series with a 24-21 record but struggled to score a run against the Hokies in this series. 

Mathew Price took the mound for Virginia Tech in this game and completely shutdown the Tigers during his seven innings of work.  Price struck out 10 batters while only allowing four hits, giving him his seventh win on the season. 

Savannah State’s Mark Sherrod kept the Tigers in this game as he tossed a full seven innings while giving up just three earned runs.  However, the Hokies eventually jumped on him and stretched the lead with a five-run eighth inning. 

Bob Sosnoskie got things started for Tech in the first inning with a solo shot to center field.  His teammate, Brent Zimmerman, scored on a wild pitch in the second to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead.  

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Price and Sherrod shut down both offenses for the next few innings, as neither team was able to muster anything more than a single.  However, the Hokies finally broke out of the slump in the bottom of the eighth, as Michael Seaborne was able to score on a throwing error by Sherrod. 

Erik Ransom replaced Sherrod after the error, but the sophomore failed to get the Tigers out of the jam in the eighth. Zimmerman drove in catcher Chris Kay with a hit to give the Hokies a 4-0 lead.  Ransom recorded two outs by getting Steve Domecus and Sosnoskie to fly out, but he left the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Kevin Herlihy replaced Ransom and preceded to give up a three-run double to Ronnie Shaban, which gave the Hokies a commanding 7-0 lead. 

Closer Ben Rowan, who entered the game in the eighth, pitched a hitless ninth inning and retired three Tiger hitters on just five pitches.  Rowan picked up his fifth save of the season after pitching the final 1 1/3 innings (he entered, of course, with a 2-0 lead in the top of the eighth)

Savannah State will return home to take on North Carolina A&T while the Hokies have a date with the Duke Blue Devils in Blacksburg next weekend.

By: Justin Clark
ACC Fans Guest Writer