Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Despite charging ahead early on Saturday courtesy of Sam Tackett’s fourth home run of the season, the Virginia Tech baseball team was largely kept in check by UNCG right-hand starter Sam Murchison, who held the Hokies to their season scoring low during the hosts’ 6-2, series-opening loss at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Tackett battled Murchison to a full count upon leading off the bottom of the second inning, turning on the next pitch and dropping it 391 feet to left field for the game’s opening run. While successfully breaking the ice, Tackett’s swing – four batters into the ballgame – was nearly all the firepower Virginia Tech (3-2) could muster against the Spartans’ senior right-hander, who stifled the Hokies to two runs on six hits through seven innings on the mound (99 pitches).
After UNCG (4-1) had tied the action at 1-1 during the fourth inning, senior outfielder Treyson Hughes brought home Jared Davis by threading an RBI single up the middle, temporarily reinstating the Hokies’ one-run lead. Davis had reached by beating a one-out bunt up the first base line, scoring from second base following his second stolen base of the afternoon.
Virginia Tech right-hand starter Brett Renfrow was effective in picking up outs despite tying his career high in walks allowed (four), including two during the fourth inning that led to the Spartans’ evening of the game. Jacob Budzik’s leadoff double against Renfrow during the fifth inning and a sacrifice bunt by Zachary Walsh put the sophomore’s start in jeopardy before an untimely error by third baseman Ethan Gibson allowed UNCG to tie the game at 2-2, sealing Renfrow’s early departure.
Junior left-hand reliever Andrew Sentlinger struggled briefly finding the inning-ending outs behind Renfrow, inviting UNCG to storm ahead, 4-2.
After plunking Parker Wright with his 1-1 delivery, Sentlinger conceded an RBI double to cleanup batter Luke Holland, who gifted the Spartans their final lead. With two runners in scoring position, Sentlinger induced the weak chopper he wanted from pinch-hitter Malachi Gales, but his underhand toss to catcher David McCann was ruled to have arrived a smidge late by replay review, resulting in another troublesome run scored by the visitors.
Sentlinger recovered to keep Virginia Tech in the ballgame, accounting for six strikeouts – including five consecutive – spanning his two and one-third innings of relief. However, the Hokies were unable to convert doubles by David Lewis (fourth inning), McCann (eighth inning) and Davis (ninth inning) into run support down the stretch, letting their deficit fester well into the late innings.
Momentum seemed to decisively remain in favor of UNCG during the bottom of the eighth inning when the Spartans turned the inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play against Ben Watson. McCann had powered a one-out double to right center field – his eighth extra-base hit of the season (sixth double) – while Tackett had walked on four pitches, advancing no farther upon Budzik’s sound pick at shortstop.
UNCG tacked on two runs during the top of the ninth inning, providing enough insurance for right-hander Mayson Dear to collect the save.