Hokie ClubRALEIGH, N.C. – Playing a double-header on Sunday to make up for time lost due to rain the previous two days, the Virginia Tech baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games to host N.C. State at Doak Field.
The Hokies fell to 15-10 overall and 3-8 ACC with the setbacks, while the Wolfpack improved to 15-12 overall and 5-7 in league play.
The Wolfpack came out on top of an ugly game one that featured a combined 11 errors, 17 walks and 34 hits by the two teams. Although the Hokies banged out at least 18 hits (they had 19) for the seventh time this season and scored in double digits for the 12th time, they also gave up season highs in runs and walks (13), while committing a season-high seven errors.
Seven Hokies had multi-hit games in this one, with Austin Wates leading the way with four base knocks and four runs scored. Ronnie Shaban and Michael Seaborn each tallied three hits, with Seaborn hitting his third home run of the year. Anthony Sosnoskie collected five RBIs thanks to a three-run double and two sacrifice flies..
Tech was down by four entering the ninth and scored three runs, but it wasn’t enough and the Wolfpack emerged with a 19-18 victory. The decision marked the first time in 12 games that the Hokies lost when scoring at least 10 runs.
The second game of the twin-bill looked like it might be more of the same when Tech jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one, but things settled down after that thanks to a solid effort by Hokie starter Justin Wright. The sophomore left-hander pitched 5.1 innings and struck out four while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk.
The two teams traded runs in the second to make it 6-1 Hokies, but that’s all Tech would get the rest of the way. N.C. State added three in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4, and then three more in the eighth to set the final margin.
The final blow came from the Wolfpack’s Pat Ferguson, who delivered a pinch-hit, two-run homer to left field to send the Hokies to 1-4 in one-run games on the year.
Tech returns to action on Tuesday with a 3 p.m., visit to James Madison.