Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Five Virginia Tech pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout, and 12 Tech batters contributed hits, as the Hokies posted a 13-0 non-conference victory against North Carolina Central at English Field on Tuesday. The game was shortened to seven innings under a pre-game 10-run agreement.
Tech improved to 21-10 overall with the win. The Hokies collected 16 hits, including three homers, a triple and three doubles. Freshmen Andrew Rash and Brent Zimmerman contributed the first multiple-hit games of their college careers. They were joined with two hits by shortstop Tim Smalling and outfielder Mike Kaminski. Matt Blow topped Tech with three runs batted in, while Kaminski and left fielder Steve Domecus each drove in a pair.
By design, Tech used multiple pitchers in the contest with Joe Parsons, Mark Zecchino and Jake Joyce pitching an inning apiece, while Patrick Scoggin and Joe Mantiply both worked two innings. Parsons collected the win for his first decision of the season. North Carolina Central starter Glenn Frye (0-6) took the loss.
The Eagles (0-28) managed just three base runners in the game, the first coming when second baseman Jasper Jones drew a walk from Joyce in the third inning. Left fielder Ross Plummer and designated hitter Edward Pegues led off the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles during Scoggin’s second inning of work. The Tech right-hander ended the threat by striking out the side.
After Tech designated hitter Buddy Sosnoskie doubled and scored a first-inning run on a wild pitch, the Hokies hit for the cycle while sending 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning. Second baseman Michael Seaborn contributed a lead-off homer, while Domecus notched his eight round-tripper of the season with a man aboard. Smalling added a run-scoring triple, Austin Wates and Anthony Sosnoskie banged RBI singles and center fielder Sean Ryan capped the frame with an RBI double. Smalling drove in another run with a single in the third before turning the shortstop duties over to Zimmerman.
During the fifth inning, Zimmerman singled and scored along with Kaminski ahead of Matt Blow’s second home run of the season, increasing the Hokies’ lead to 12-0. Singles by Rash and Zimmerman set the table for an RBI single from Kaminski that closed out the scoring in the sixth.
Tech returns to action on Friday night at 5:30 when it opens a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against the ninth-ranked Miami Hurricanes at English Field.