Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Mathew Price pitched six scoreless innings and Virginia Tech tied a season-high with 19 hits to complete a four-game weekend baseball sweep of Long Island University with a 12-4 victory at English Field on Sunday.
The Hokies extended their winning streak to eight games and now stand 8-2 on the season. LIU fell to 1-7 with the loss.
Tech’s Price returned to the mound for the first time in more than two weeks after experiencing sinus problems. The sophomore right-hander turned in a workman-like six innings, scattering six hits without allowing a run, to even his record at 1-1. Left-hander Sean McDermott and right-handers Joe Parsons and Jake Joyce each pitched an inning of relief each to finish out the game.
The Hokies broke a scoreless tie with a five-run third inning. Tech’s first six batters reached base during the inning, with the first five scoring. First baseman Matt Blow got things going with a double and center fielder Sean Ryan followed with a bunt single. After redshirt sophomore Buddy Sosnoskie drove in Blow with a single, catcher Steve Domecus laid down another bunt-single to load the bases. Catcher Anthony Sosnoskie drew a walk to plate Ryan and shortstop Tim Smalling added a two-run single to cap the inning.
Tech tacked on a run in the fifth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh. Right fielder Mike Kaminski singled home the run in the fifth inning, while third baseman Ronnie Shaban’s three-run homer highlighted the six. Freshman Brent Zimmerman accounted for the two runs in the seventh with a single.
Long Island was able to snap a 26.2-inning scoreless streak against Tech pitching with a two-run eighth. Gerard Tingos and Sam Sciamarelli greeted Parsons with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. A pair of wild pitches allowed Tingos to score the Blackbirds’ first run since the eighth inning of Friday night’s opening game of the four-game series. Sciamarelli scored the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center by Drew Walsh.
Sciamarelli also picked up a sacrifice fly in the ninth when Long Island picked up two more runs. Tito Marrero singled and scored the first run of the frame when Joyce walked Julian Castro with the bases loaded. Marrero and catcher Tyler Jones paced the Blackbirds’ 10-hit attack with three each.
Buddy Sosnoskie and Shaban led the hit parade for Tech with three apiece. The Hokies got two hits each from Domecus, Anthony Sosnoskie and Seaborn. Shaban drove in three runs, while Anthony Sosnoskie, Smalling and Zimmerman added two each. Twelve different players contributed hits.
The Hokies are scheduled to continue their 12-game homestand on Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m., contest against Bryant University.