Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech baseball team scored all of its runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to defeat the visiting Maryland Terrapins 8-4 on Sunday afternoon at English Field.
Tech claimed the three-game series with the win and improved to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. Maryland dropped to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the sixth, Tech finally got on the scoreboard with three runs on three hits. After Anthony Sosnoskie led off the frame with a walk and Michael Seaborn doubled, Buddy Sosnoskie poked a single past Maryland’s diving shortstop to bring home his brother. A walk to Mike Kaminski loaded the bases before Seaborn was forced out at home on a fielder’s choice by Steve Domecus, but Austin Wates later delivered a two-run single to give Tech the lead.
Maryland got the lead right back in the top of the seventh with three runs of their own. The first came thanks to an RBI squeeze-bunt single by Jack Cleary, and the other two were the result of a two-run base knock by Alfredo Rodriguez.
The Tech offense responded in the very next at-bat and spotted the Hokies with a 6-4 lead. Buddy Sosnoskie reached on a two-out bunt single and immediately scored on a double by Kaminski to tie things up. After Domecus was hit by a pitch, Sean Ryan notched the second triple of his career, scoring Kaminski and Domecus.
The Hokies tallied two insurance runs in the eighth to set the final score, with Tim Smalling scoring on a wild pitch and Ronnie Shaban touching home on another RBI single by Buddy Sosnoskie.
Buddy Sosnoskie led the Hokies’ offensive attack by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Ryan had two other hits to go with his two-run triple, and Smalling went 2-for-4.
On the mound, Tech starter Mathew Price got the win to improve to 2-1 after tossing a career-high eight innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out six. Ben Rowen pitched a scoreless ninth.
Maryland reliever Ian Schwalenberg (1-2) gave up three runs on three hits and was tagged with the loss.
The Hokies will continue their 12-game homestand on Monday with a 5:30 p.m., contest against Columbia University.