Hokie ClubDELAND, Fla. – An exciting sixth inning saw both Virginia Tech and Central Michigan put four runs on the board, but the Hokies' three-run lead heading into the frame was the difference, and they were able to hold on for a 7-4 victory in their final game at Melching Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Leading 3-0 through the first five innings, the Hokies quickly saw that advantage erased in the sixth when Central Michigan (2-10-1) scored four runs, thanks to a two-run double from Jacob Crum and a two-run single by Jason Sullivan.
However, the deficit was short lived, as four of the first five Hokies reached base in the home half, with Nick Menken delivering an RBI single that tied the game and JD Mundy putting Tech ahead with an RBI double. Joe Freiday, Jr. gave Tech some insurance with an RBI grounder and an error that allowed the seventh run to cross the plate.
Andrew McDonald closed out the game, tossing the last 1.2 scoreless innings for his second save of the season. Graham Seitz improved to 2-0 with the win out of the bullpen. Most notably on the mound, Tech's Luke Scherzer made the start, and it was his first game pitching for the Hokies since the 2015 season.
Tech (6-7) took its three-run lead by putting two on the board in the third and a run in the fifth. Mundy broke the scoreless tie with a leadoff solo home run in the third before Jack Owens gave Tech a two-run lead on his own.
Owens was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball, stole third and raced home when the throw sailed into left field. Freiday, Jr. led off the fifth with a triple and scored on Owen's sacrifice fly to put the Hokies up three.
Inside the Box
- Fragale – two hits, fifth multi-hit game of the season, 43rd of his career.
- Freiday – triple, first of the season, second of his career.
- Mundy – home run, first of the season, sixth of his career; double, first of the season, sixth of his career; two hits, two runs, two RBI, all the first of the year, sixth multi-hit game, fifth, multi-RBI game, and seventh multi-hit run scoring games of career.
- J. Owens – two stolen bases, 7-for-7 this season, 16 stolen bases in his career; hit by two pitches, team-leading seven on the year.
- Scherzer – first career start; appeared on the mound for the first time since May 19, 2015 versus UNC; struck out two batters.
Additional Notes
- Tech recorded its 12th double play of the season in the third.
- This was the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools, and the second this season. Central Michigan won the first three – including the first ever meeting in the 1997 NCAA Mideast Regional in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tech won Sunday's contest 4-3 on a Tom Stoffel RBI single in the ninth.
- In the Sunshine State, Tech is 51-99 all-time, which includes a 17-14 mark in DeLand. They are now 37-34 in neutral site games in the state, 16-6 in DeLand.
Up Next
- The Hokies will return to the Tech campus tonight and practice Thursday, as they get ready for their ACC home-opening weekend against Pittsburgh starting Friday at noon at English Field at Union Park.