BC BASEBALL Drops Series Opener to Hokies 16-4

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BC BASEBALL Drops Series Opener to Hokies
Adams leads the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 night

BOX SCORE

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Virginia Tech 16, Boston College 4
Records: Boston College (8-15, 1-9 ACC) at Virginia Tech (15-13, 4-6 ACC)
Location: English Field at Union Park in Blacksburg, Va.
Series: VT leads the series, 1-0BC HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Johnny Adams led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 night with a double, walk, RBI and run. He extended his on-base streak to nine games.

Sophomore Gian Martellini also doubled and drove in a run, going 1-for-2 with two walks.

Junior Donovan Casey was 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two walks.

Sophomore Jake Alu and senior Michael Strem were responsible for the two other BC runs with an RBI each.

KEY PLAYS

With the game tied at three in the fifth, the Hokies scored two in the bottom of the inning and chased sophomore right-handed starter Jacob Stevens from the game.

Virginia Tech added seven runs off three different BC pitchers in sixth to take a commanding lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hokies were the first to get on the board with a solo shot by JD Mundy to lead off the second inning.

The Eagles took the lead in the next frame, scoring two. Junior Anthony Maselli laced one back at VT pitcher Connor Conway and the ball skipped away toward second. Casey drew a walk to put two on and Adams plated the first run with a double to left. Strem scored the second run with a groundout to second.

Virginia Tech retook the lead in the bottom the inning. Rahiem Cooper led off with a double as he smoked one at junior first baseman Mitch Bigras. Bigras got a glove on it, but the ball ricocheted into the outfield. Cooper moved to third on a wild pitch and Jack Owens singled up the middle to tie the game. Stevens got the first out swinging before allowing a single to put runners on the corners. Sam Fragale hit a fly ball to left and Alu made the diving catch for the second out, but Owens tagged up from third to give the Hokies the lead back.

After the Eagles got out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fourth with a 643 double play, they tied the game in the top of the fifth. Casey led off with a base hit to left and stole second to move into scoring position. Adams grounded out to second to advance Casey to third and with two outs, Martellini doubled to right center to plate the tying run.

The Hokies went up again in the bottom of the inning, scoring two and chasing Stevens from the game. With one down, Fragale hit a home run to center to break the 3-3 tie. Tech loaded the bases on a single, two walks and a fielder’s choice, allowing Eagles to record the second out. Stevens walked in the second run to make it 5-3. Junior LHP Carmen Giampetruzzi came on in relief and got a chopper to short to end the inning.

Virginia Tech added seven runs on seven hits in the sixth to take a 12-3 lead. The first two batters reached on a double and single and sophomore RHP Sean Hughes came in and allowed a base hit through the left side to plate the first run of the inning. He got a chopper to first for the first out, moving the runners to second and third. A walk loaded the bases and Alu moved to the mound to pitch. A hit by pitch brought in the next Hokie run before Joe Freiday Jr. drove in two with a base hit to left. A single reloaded the bases and Ryan Tufts plated two more with a base hit to right. With runners on the corners, Tom Stoffel hit one up the middle to make it a nine-run Hokies lead. Alu got a grounder to second to end the inning.

The Eagles got one back in the seventh with RHP Joey Sullivan on the mound. He walked the bases loaded with one down before LHP Paul Hall, Jr. came into the game. The lefty got a strikeout but Alu drew a walk to plate the fourth BC run.

With junior RHP Bobby Skogsbergh on the hill, the Hokies were able to get four runs across in the eighth. Cooper led off with a double and Owens followed with a base hit to right. Right fielder Casey bobbled the ball, allowing Cooper to score. The Eagles were able to gun Owens down at second for the first out. After two more hits, Fragale hit his second home run of the game to make it a 16-4 game. Skogsbergh got a ground ball and a strikeout looking to end the inning.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Virginia Tech series increases its all-time series lead to 22-17 and has won the last 10 games in Blacksburg.

The 16 runs and 22 hits allowed were the most given up by the BC pitching staff this season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Hokies return to English Field for the second game of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The game can be heard on the BC IMG Sports Radio Network as the Eagles’ Game of the Week.