BLACKSBURG – The visiting Liberty Flames took advantage of three Virginia Tech errors, including a costly one in the 10th inning, and registered a 4-3 victory over the Hokies on Tuesday night in nonconference action at English Field at Union Park.
Liberty (14-9) scored single runs in the first three frames, using a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch to aid in the first, an unearned run scored in the second and a walk and stolen base helped the third one cross.
Tech (10-13) battled back, though, with Joe Freiday, Jr.'s home run in the second giving the Hokies' their first run and a Jack Owens' RBI triple followed by a Tom Stoffel RBI single tied the game in the fifth.
It looked like Tech would get the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth after Stoffel and Luke Horanski notched back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. However, Liberty's Garret Price ended the threat with a pair of groundballs and a strikeout.
The Flames appeared to put the go-ahead run on the board in the ninth after they had runners on the corners and just one out. Tre Todd beat out a double-play throw to first, however, E.P. Reese was ruled to have interfered at second ending the inning. But they'd get the game winner across in the next frame, after an error allowed Cam Locklear get to third with just one out. An RBI single by Logan Mathieu drove him in.
Inside the Box
- Freiday – home run, second of the season, 13th of his career.
- Horanski – double, team-leading eighth of the season/career; two hits, seventh multi-hit game of the season/career.
- Ryan Okuda – 4.1 innings pitched, tied season high (vs. Wagner, 3/6/18); four strikeouts, new season high; four scoreless frames, nine for the season; two perfect frames, five for the season; new season-long 4.1 scoreless innings pitched and, at one point, retired six straight batters, a new season best.
- Owens – triple, second of the season, fourth of his career; two hits, fifth multi-hit game of the season, 29th of his career.
- Stoffel – two hits, 11th multi-hit game of the season, 49th of his career.
Additional Notes
- The two teams renewed a rivalry that started back in 1979. They faced each other at least once a year for every season since except last year. The Hokies hold a 39-26 edge and a 23-14 mark at home and a 15-11 record at English Field at Union Park.
- Tech had won four straight in Blacksburg before Liberty has now taken the last three.
- Today's game was part of Military Appreciation Day at English Field at Union Park.
Up Next
- The Hokies continue a five-game home stand with an ACC three-game series against No. 6 NC State. The series against the Wolfpack starts Thursday with first pitch set for 4 p.m.