Hokie ClubRADFORD, Va. – The 20th-ranked Virginia Tech baseball team pounded out 18 hits, including nine of the extra-base variety, to defeat Radford 16-6 in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at RU Baseball Field.
Designated hitter Steve Domecus led the Hokies (26-13) by going 4-for-4 with a three runs scored and career-highs of three doubles and six runs batted in. First baseman Ronnie Shaban went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs, while shortstop Tim Smalling went 3-for-5 with four runs scored.
Radford (17-18) was led by second baseman Alex Guerra, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a home run.
Tech starting pitcher Manny Martir (3-2) gave up four runs on four hits in 3.1 innings, but was eligible for the win because it was pre-arranged that the Hokies would use more than three pitchers on limited pitch counts. He struck out four and walked two.
Paul DeVito (1-3) took the loss for Radford after starting and letting up six runs on seven hits through 2.1 innings of work.
The Hokies wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, picking up two hits in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Smalling got things started with a one-out single before moving to second when Domecus was hit by a pitch, and to third on the front end of an unsuccessful double-steal attempt. Smalling then came home to score on a single to right-center by right fielder Austin Wates.
The Highlanders answered right back in the bottom of the first with an identical one run on two hits to tie the game. Right fielder Reggie Keen reached on a one-out single before advancing to second when left fielder Raphael Turner drew a walk. Guerra then followed with a base hit to right field to bring home Keen from second.
Tech left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie showed some opposite-field power in the top of the second, sending a two-out, 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall for his sixth home run of the season to make it 2-1 Hokies. Tech would then go on to load the bases thanks to a pair of bases on balls and a single, and Domecus would later clear those bases with a three-run double to left-center to give Tech a 5-1 advantage.
Tech catcher Anthony Sosnoskie joined his brother in the home run column in the top of third, sending a solo shot over the center-field wall for his fourth round-tripper of the season, giving the Hokies a 6-1 lead.
The Hokies put the game out of Radford’s reach by scoring five runs on six hits in the top of the fourth inning to build an 11-1 advantage. The runs came courtesy of a two-run double by Domecus, a one-run double from Anthony Sosnokie, and RBI singles from both Shaban and Buddy Sosnoskie.
Radford managed three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut Tech’s lead to 11-3. The first two came thanks to a two-run home run to right field by Guerra that also scored Turner, who had walked. First baseman Andrew Cook later doubled and came around to score on a base hit by catcher Robert Lamas.
Tech tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth to make 14-4. After Smalling hit his third triple of the season, Domecus tallied his career-high sixth RBI by singling him home. Following a walk issued to Wates, Shaban ripped his 12th double of the season to score both Domecus and Wates.
Guerra tallied his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the fifth when his groundout to second base scored Keen from third, but Tech did Radford one better in the top of the seventh by scoring two runs, with Domecus scoring on a double by Shaban and Shaban scoring on an error by the Radford shortstop.
The Highlanders set the final score in the bottom of the eighth when third baseman Matt Mack hit a solo home run to right field.
The Hokies will continue their eight-game road trip on Friday night at third-ranked Georgia Tech, with first pitch set for 7 p.m.