Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Steve Domecus’ two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning powered Virginia Tech to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Bryant University at English Field on Tuesday night.
The win was the Hokies’ ninth straight, which marks their longest winning streak since taking 14 straight back in 1999. Tech improved to 9-2 on the season, while Bryant fell to 1-7.
Down 4-3 in the decisive eighth, Domecus drove his fourth home run of the season over the left-field fence with a man aboard to put the Hokies ahead for the first time. Designated hitter Buddy Sosnoskie preceded Domecus with a one-out single, his career-best fourth hit of the night.
The win wasn’t secured, however, until some ninth inning heroics by the Hokies after the Bulldogs loaded the bases with just one out. Third baseman Ronnie Shaban, who had committed an error on the previous play, turned a tricky chopper into a force out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Reliever Ben Rowen then got Jordan English, who had hits in his previous four at bats, to strike out swinging, preserving Tech’s ninth-straight win.
Rowen was credited with the win (1-0) after he entered the game at the start of the eighth. He tied a career high with four strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore Marc Zecchino got his first start of the season for Tech and went six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. Reliever John Michael Ryan took the loss for Bryant to fall to 0-3 after surrendering the home run to Domecus.
Bryant used four hits and a Tech error to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Third-baseman Kevin Brown doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a single by right fielder Jordan English. Jamie Skagerlind grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Brown, while English moved all the way to third on a throwing error by Hokie first baseman Matt Blow. A sacrifice fly by shortstop David Soltis brought home English with the second run. Skagerlind then stole second base and scored the final run of the inning on a two-out, RBI-single by Zakary Cianciolo.
Tech finally got on the board in the sixth inning. A double by shortstop Tim Smalling, followed by an infield single off the bat of Shaban, led to a sacrifice fly by third baseman Michael Seaborn for the Hokies’ first run.
The Bulldogs countered quickly in the seventh, using a lead-off walk and a sacrifice bunt to set up an RBI single by Nick Campell that stretched the visitor’s advantage back to three runs at 4-1.
Tech whittled the lead to one in the bottom of the inning. Singles by brothers Buddy and Anthony Sosnoskie and Smalling loaded the bases with one out. Shaban followed with another single for the first run and right fielder Mike Kaminski drew a two-out walk to bring in the second.
Tech and Bryant will conclude the two-game series on Wednesday at English Field, with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.