April 29, 2007

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Virginia Tech's trend for playing close games continued Sunday as the Hokies lost the rubber match of their three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Boston College by a score of 3-2. The game marked the 11^th time in Tech's last 15 outings that the final margin had been three runs or less.

Both teams got outstanding pitching in Sunday's contest, with BC starter Terry Doyle coming out with the win over Tech's hard-luck losing pitcher Adam Redd (2-5). Both pitchers went the distance for their team and neither issued a walk during the afternoon. Redd (Dumfries, Va.) scattered nine hits over his eight innings on the mound, allowing three runs and striking out five. He retired 14 of the last 17 batters he faced after allowing a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Doyle (3-3), meanwhile, allowed 11 hits in nine innings, but held the Hokies to just two runs. He struck out eight men and retired 12 of the last 14 he faced.

Tech's 11 hits included just two extra-base hits, a solo homer by second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.) in the third inning and a pinch-hit double by Luke Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.) with two outs in the ninth. Sean O'Brien, Jose Cueto and Bryan Thomas had two hits apiece for the Hokies. BC got three hits, including a pair of doubles from right fielder Johnny Ayers. Four of the Eagles' nine hits went for two bags.

Tech (19-26; 5-19) got on the scoreboard early with a run in the top of the first. O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) opened the game with a single and moved to second when center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.) was hit by a pitch. O'Brien took third on a deep flyout by designated hitter Anthony Sosnoskie (Front Royal, Va.). The junior first baseman scored on a fielder's choice as Parks got caught in a rundown between first and second.

The Eagles (18-23-1; 11-13) collected three hits in the bottom of the inning against Redd, but the Hokie right-hander kept the damage to a minimum. A one-out single by first baseman Michael Belfiore started things for BC. Ayers followed with a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Redd loaded the bases when he hit BC third baseman Eric Campbell with a pitch, but then promptly picked Ayers off second base. A single by Tony Sanchez glanced off the glove of Thomas at third and brought Belfiore home with the tying run. Redd averted further damage by picking Sanchez off at first to end the inning.

Tech regained the lead in the third when Hacker slugged his homer down the left field line. The Hokies' lead was erased an inning latter as the Eagles used three hits to take the lead. Back-to-back doubles by Ayers and Campbell tied the score, and after a sacrifice bunt moved Campbell to third, designated hitter Mike Augustine delivered a single to give BC what proved to be the winning edge.

Virginia Tech is scheduled to play Liberty University at English Field on Tuesday night at 7 before taking a break for final exams.