Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech baseball team found itself trailing for the first time all season, after the second inning, but used single runs in the fifth and seventh to register a 2-1 comeback victory over UNC Greensboro on Monday afternoon at English Field at Union Park.
The Hokies, who were 5-11 in one-run games last year, improved to 2-0 in 2019 with Monday's win and are now 6-0 – just the sixth time in school history a Tech team started the year with six straight wins and the first time since 1987.
It wasn't easy as UNCG (3-2) used strong starting pitching, some solid defense and a Tech error to hold a 1-0 lead through four innings and looked to add more in the fifth.
In the second, with the bases loaded and just one out, Jacquez Koonce hit a grounder to the shortstop, but Tech was only able to get one as Ryan Caveness scored from third.
In the fifth, UNCG had some insurance runs waiting to score, as they set up a first and third with just one out and chased Tech starter Chris Gerard. Jack Dellinger, though, struck out the next two batters to end the threat and keep the contest at a one-run deficit.
Jeremiah Triplett, the Spartan starter, was able to get a double play turned behind him in both the first and second and stranded five Hokies on base through four innings.
However, in the fifth, a two-out Tech rally – a Nick Owens walk and a Carson Taylor single – put runners on the corners and UNCG made a call to its bullpen. Luke Horanski slapped the first pitch he saw from Jack Voigt in to left field for an RBI double and tied the game at 1-1.
(2/25/2019) 2019 BASEBALL vs UNC GREENSBORO
Dellinger found himself in a bit of a jam in the seventh, as back-to-back singles and a wild pitch with two outs had runners at second and third. An intentional walk to David Flores loaded the bases, but a flyout to left ended the frame.
Carpenter then put Tech up for the first time in the game with his second home run of the season. The solo shot gave the Hokies a 2-1 lead.
Zach Brzykcy closed out the game, but not before Austin Embler gave the home fans a bit of a scare. With one on and one out, he drove a ball to just in front of the fence in right, caught by Carpenter on the track, and a flyout to center ended the game.
Dellinger improved to 1-0 with the win, while Brzykcy picked up his second save of the year.
Tech Notes
- Is 23-3 all-time in home games played in the month of February, winning 10 straight dating back to a 7-3 loss to Temple (Feb. 24) in the 2013 home opener.
- Is 6-1 all-time against UNCG, including a 3-0 mark at home.
- Is 6-0 for just the sixth time in school history – 1987 the team started 8-0; 1924 (6-0), 1920 (10-0); 1915 (21-0), 1897 (6-0).
- Has won six straight games (at anytime) for the first time since the 2016 season (Feb. 27 through March 5 – six-game winning streak).
- Has allowed the fewest runs through six games to start a season since 1987 and their 13 runs allowed so far is tied for the fifth fewest ever – 1987 (6), 1915 (9), 1917 (11), 1969 (12) and 1985 (13).
Up Next
Tech will continue its homestand by welcoming Radford to English Field at Union Park on Tuesday with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch.