Hokie ClubNEW ORLEANS, La. – Virginia Tech freshman pitcher Ian Seymour struck out nine batters and received solid defensive help in the nightcap, as the Hokies were able to split their day-night doubleheader in their final day of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic at Maestri Field Saturday.
Tech (2-5) struggled offensively in the first game, as it could not capitalize with runners in scoring position and dropped a 4-2 game to the host New Orleans Privateers. In the second game, the Hokies came through in the clutch early, while Seymour tossed a season-high 6.1 innings and had two double plays turned behind him as he picked up his first collegiate win in a 4-2 victory over Ball State.
Game 1 recap:
The Privateers (4-3) scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, which included solo home runs by Owen Magee and Beau Bratton. Bratton's home run notched his second RBI of the game that put New Orleans up 3-0.
Tom Stoffel led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run and Jack Owens drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to pull Tech to within a run at 3-2.
However, the Hokies could not get the equalizer as they stranded 15 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in both the third and fifth and stranding the tying run on second base in the ninth.
Game 2 recap:
The Hokies reversed their fortunes in the nightcap, as they twice scored a pair of runs after loading the bases with two outs – ironically with Nick Menken at the plate both times.
In the first, Luke Horanski drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Menken followed with a single to score both Owens and Stoffel. In the third, Owens was standing on third with two outs when Ball State intentionally walked Sam Fragale and Horanski drew another walk.
Menken was at the plate when Cardinal pitcher Nolan Gazouski uncorked a wild pitch scoring Owens and Fragale came around as well on a throwing error during the same play.
The Cardinals (3-4) got to Seymour in the seventh as they started the frame with back-to-back singles and pushed two across the plate to cut into their deficit.
Nic Enright closed out the game, though, by tossing the final two innings scoreless with four strikeouts to pick up his first collegiate save.
Inside the Box – Game 1
- Dylan Hall – career-high 5.2 innings pitched.
- Horanski – double, third of the season.
- Cam Irvine – single, first collegiate hit.
- J. Owens – career-high two walks.
- Nick Owens – double, first of his Tech career; two hits, third multi-hit game of the season.
- Stoffel – home run, first of the season, 11th of his career; two hits, fourth multi-hit game of the season, 42nd of his career.
Inside the Box – Game 2
- Enright – first career save.
- Fragale – stolen base, second of the season and his career.
- Irvine – first collegiate start.
- Menken – two RBI, second multi-RBI game of the year.
- J. Owens – two runs scored, second multi-run scoring game of the season, 17th of his career; stolen base, first of the season, 10th of his career; two hits, second multi-hit game of the season, 26th of his career.
- Seymour – struck out the side in the second and fifth innings, done that three times this season; career-high 6.1 innings pitched; career-high nine strikeouts.
Additional Notes
- The Hokies and New Orleans met for just the second time in program history. Tech lost the previous one, 4-1, on May 8, 1988 – a game played in Norfolk, Virginia.
- Today's game against Ball State was the first ever meeting between the two schools.
- Freshman Darion Jacoby has started each of Tech's first seven games this season becoming the first freshman to do so since Alex Perez, who never missed a start during his collegiate career (2012-15), started all 55 games as a freshman and a school record 224 straight games.
- The Hokies are now 5-13 all-time in the state of Louisiana, including a 4-11 mark in New Orleans.
Up Next
- The Hokies will return to Blacksburg and hold their home opener on Tuesday against Radford. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Please CLICK HERE for information on what to expect for this first game of 2018 at English Field at Union Park.