Hokie ClubCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Top-ranked Virginia scored six runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to break a 2-2 tie and claim an 8-2 victory over No. 20 Virginia Tech on Saturday in game two of a three-game ACC baseball series at Davenport Field.
The Cavaliers improved to 29-8 overall and 12-5 in the ACC with the win, while the Hokies fell to 24-13 overall and 8-9 in league play.
The Hokies got on the board first with a run in the top of the first. Catcher Steve Domecus led off the game with an infield single before moving to second on a bunt single by Sean Ryan. After recording the first out, Virginia starting pitcher Robert Morey walked right fielder Austin Wates to load the bases before issuing another walk to first baseman Ronnie Shaban that brought home Domecus.
Virginia got that run right back in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one. After left fielder Phil Gosselin led off the frame with a single, he moved to second on a balk called on Tech starter Mathew Price and to third on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Keith Werman. Right fielder Dan Grovatt followed with an RBI groundout to short that plated Gosselin.
Cavaliers’ shortstop Tyler Cannon gave Virginia a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored third baseman Steven Proscia. Proscia had led off with a double and advanced to third on a fly out to center by center fielder Jarrett Parker.
The Hokies tied the game at two in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Ryan. The Tech center fielder’s second base hit of the day brought home Domecus, who was hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a wild pitch by Morey.
Virginia reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs to make it 4-2. The first came on an RBI single courtesy of Cannon that brought home Grovatt, who previously reached on a walk. Consecutive singles by catcher John Hicks and first baseman Kenny Swab followed to score Cannon.
Gosselin scored an insurance run for the Cavaliers in the seventh on an RBI triple to the right-field wall by Werman that put Virginia up 5-2.
Swab delivered his second RBI single of the game with an eighth-inning base hit that brought home Parker, while two more runs scored later in the frame on a base knock from Gosselin to set the final tally at 8-2.
Price (4-3) was tagged with the loss for the Hokies after surrendering five runs on a season-high tying nine hits over 6.1 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Morey (5-2) picked up the win for the Cavaliers after scattering five hits over seven innings. He gave up two runs, while walking three and fanning three. Reliever Tyler Wilson, who earned the win in Friday night’s game, collected his second save after entering in the eighth with a three-run lead and tossing the final two frames.
The two teams are scheduled to conclude the three-game series on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.