Hokie ClubCHARLESTON, S.C. – The Virginia Tech baseball team used a solid all-around effort to edge out a 4-2 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, S.C.
Tech got a strong performance out of starting pitcher Jesse Hahn for the second consecutive week, as the 6-foot-5 right-hander went seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. He walked just one and tied a career high with five strikeouts to pick up his second win in as many starts.
The Hokies (3-2) played errorless ball behind him, and racked up double-digit hits (11) at the plate for the fifth straight game. Designated hitter Anthony Sosnoskie went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while right fielder Mike Kaminski and shortstop Tim Smalling each went 2-for-5. Catcher Steve Domecus scored two runs for Tech, and redshirt freshman left fielder Andrew Rash picked up the first hit of his career. First baseman Austin Wates went 0-for-5 to snap a 17-game hitting streak that dated back to last season.
For Charleston Southern (2-4), starter Charlie McCready took the loss (0-1) after letting up four runs (three earned) on nine hits over five innings. Reliever Stew Brase tossed four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits. Offensively for the Buccaneers, third baseman Matt Still went 4-for-4 and left fielder Brantley Meier went 3-for-4.
The Buccaneers got on the board first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Still, who led off with a double, scored on a single to right by shortstop Walt Quattlebaum.
Tech answered in the top of the third to tie things up. Sean Ryan and Kaminski reached on back-to-back singles with one out, setting the table for Smalling’s base hit to score Ryan.
Domecus and Sosnoskie, who each hit two home runs in Friday’s win, teamed up again in the top of the fourth inning to give Tech a 2-1 lead. Domecus led the frame off with a double to left-center, and Sosnoskie quickly brought him home with a double of his own to the left-field corner.
CSU knotted things again in the bottom half of the fourth, picking up a run from right fielder Tyler Thornburg, who had led off with a walk. After designated hitter Derek Smith struck out, Still and first baseman Nick Chinners delivered consecutive singles, with Chinners’ base knock bringing home Thornburg.
Tech picked up two runs in the fifth inning to spot Hahn with a lead he would not relinquish. With Smalling on second base following a double and Domecus on first after drawing a walk, Sosnoskie lifted a high pop-up to shallow right field. A miscommunication by the CSU defense allowed the ball to drop, with Smalling racing home and Domecus making it to third. Second baseman Michael Seaborn followed with a grounder to second that was thrown away by CSU’s Brandon McKinney, which permitted Domecus to touch home to set the final score.
Hahn would allow only two hits over the next three innings before being replaced by redshirt junior Brandon Fisher in the eighth. Senior Ben Rowen struck out two in the ninth to record Tech’s first save of the season, and the fifth of his career.
Tech and CSU are scheduled to conclude the three-game series on Sunday, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.