February 24, 2007

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Catcher Anthony Sosnoskie's grand slam highlighted a five-run 10^th inning as Virginia Tech posted its second straight extra-inning win in the Homewood Suites Shootout in Charleston, S.C. with a 9-6 decision over UNC Asheville on Saturday.

Just like in the Hokies' 5-4 victory over The Citadel on Friday, Tech went into the ninth inning with a one-run advantage, only to see their opponent tie the game with two outs. In Saturday's game, UNC Asheville capitalized on a one-out walk and three wild pitches to score and force extra innings.

The Hokies (5-2), however, wasted little time grabbing the lead back in the 10^th. Designated hitter Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) singled to open the inning and left fielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.) bounced a double over the first baseman's head to put runners at second and third. Tech shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Junior second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.) delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to break the tie. Sosnoskie, a freshman walk-on from Front Royal, Va., then drove a pitch over the right field wall to put Tech on top 9-4.

The Bulldogs (3-6) scored twice in the bottom of the inning, but a key double play on a line drive to Hacker finally took the wind out of their sails and freshman pitcher David Zappacosta (Baltimore, Md.) struck out UNCA left fielder Rob Vernon to end the game.

Tech opened the scoring with a three-run third inning. With one out in the inning, Sosnoski and center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.) were hit by pitches. A two-out single by first baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) brought in Sosnoski with the first run. After O'Brien drew a walk, right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) laced a two-run single to right field on an 0-2 count.

UNC Asheville picked up its first run in the bottom of the third. Bulldog right fielder David Williams led off the inning with a bunt-single and moved to second on a ground out. Williams took third on a long fly out to right and came home on a two-out single by Vernon.

The Hokies added a run in the fifth inning when right fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.) reached on a lead-off double, moved to third on a single by Thomas and scored on a single by O'Brien.

Tech starting pitcher Andrew Wells (Alexandria, Va.) pitched into the sixth inning, loading the bases on a walk and two singles with two outs. Senior reliever Scott Stoehr (Timberville, Va.) took over and allowed a run-scoring single to Williams before getting center fielder Kevin Mattison to ground out, ending the inning.

The Bulldogs continued to chip away at the Tech lead, cutting it to 4-3 with another two-out score in the seventh. A double by Vernon, followed by a Tech fielding error on a single by second baseman Kyle Smith produced the run.

Tech used a total of seven pitchers in the game. Wells allowed two runs on seven hits during his 5.2 innings. Sophomore Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.) appeared for the sixth time in seven games for the Hokies, worked 1.1 scoreless innings and got Tech out of a jam in the seventh. Junior southpaw Casey Herald (Tazewell, Va.) came on to record the final out in the ninth and picked up the win, his first as a Hokie.

Six players finished with two hits each as Tech out-hit the Bulldogs 14-12. Sosnoskie had two hits, two runs scored and four RBIs on the day, while Cueto drove in two runs with a pair of hits. The junior outfielder also made a spectacular catch in foul territory during the third inning and threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth inning. O'Brien, Ryan, Parks and Thomas also had two-hit games.

Vernon and Williams had three hits each for UNC Asheville. Andrew Alexander, the second of three Bulldog pitchers, suffered the loss.

Tech is scheduled to return to action on Sunday at Riley Park against the University of Minnesota at 10 a.m. The starting time for the game was moved up an hour due to the threat of inclement weather.