Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – After seeing a five-run lead slowly evaporate, Davidson College erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning to hand No. 16 Virginia Tech a 14-10 non-conference baseball loss at English Field on Tuesday.
Davidson led by five runs on two occasions during the early innings only to see the Hokies battle back to grab an 8-7 edge with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Wildcats bounced back with a vengeance in the seventh, however. The inning featured a three-run homer by third baseman Andrew Barna and a two-run round-tripper by shortstop Michael Zeblo, the first extra base hits of the game for Davidson. Sandwiched in between the two home runs was a two-run single by center fielder Coleman Barron.
The win, Davidson’s first against a ranked team since beating No. 24 Wake Forest in 2006, improved the Wildcats to 19-26. Tech now stands 32-15 on the season. The loss was the first for the Hokies against a non-conference foe since dropping 10-6 decision to Rider on March 17.
Davidson greeted Tech freshman pitcher Patrick Scoggin with five consecutive hits on the way to a five-run first inning. Catcher Seth Freeman got things started for the Wildcats with a lead-off double. Sam Payne, Drew Gadaire, Barna and Calvin Sigelbaum then smacked consecutive singles, with Gadaire, Barna and Sigelbaum each picking up an RBI. Designated hitter Will General grounded out to second to score Barna, and a wild pitch by Scoggin allowed Sigelbaum to scamper home with the final run of the frame.
A triple by Tech first baseman Ronnie Shaban trimmed the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the first. With two outs, designated hitter Steve Domecus singled and right fielder Austin Wates drew a base on balls. Shaban smashed his third triple of the year off the center field wall to up his team-leading RBI total to 48.
The visitors chased Scoggin in the second inning and got both runs back. Zeblo walked to start the inning and promptly stole second base. He scored on a one-out single by Payne. Gadaire reached on a fielder’s choice and scored all the way from first on a double by Barna that came off Tech reliever Marc Zecchino.
Freshman third baseman Brent Zimmerman’s first collegiate home run trimmed Davidson’s lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the inning. Second baseman Michael Seaborn reached on a walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Zimmerman’s blow to right center. Zimmerman became the 15th Tech player to homer this season.
The Hokies picked up another run in the fifth when Shaban registered his third hit and second double, then came around to score on a two-out, two-bagger off the bat of Seaborn.
A Davidson error helped Tech capture the lead briefly in the sixth. After center fielder Sean Ryan reached on a single with one out, left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie bounced a come-backer to the mound. Relief pitcher Thomas Middour wheeled and threw to second to start a potential double play, but his throw was dropped, leaving both runners safe. Domecus followed with his 11th homer of the year to put the Hokies on top 8-7.
Following the Wildcat’s seventh-inning rally, Tech managed a couple of runs in the bottom of the inning. Shortstop Tim Smalling connected for his seventh homer with nobody aboard for the first run, while Seaborn and pinch-hitter Matt Blow each doubled to produce the second.
Reliever Andy Bass held Tech hitless from that point on, retiring eight of the nine batters he faced and preserving a win for Thomas Middour (4-2), who worked an inning of relief. Manny Martir, the third of five Tech pitchers, took the loss and now stands at 3-3 on the year.
Both teams finished with 14 hits in the contest. Barna paced Davidson with a 4-for-5 game that included five runs batted in and two runs scored. Shaban had three hits for the Hokies, driving in two runs and scoring one. Domecus, Ryan, Seaborn and Smalling finished with two hits apiece, with Domecus driving in three runs. Nine of Tech’s 14 hits went for extra bases.
Tech is scheduled to return to action this weekend with a two-game, non-conference series against Savannah State at English Field. Game one is set for 7:30 on Saturday night and game two is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.