JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The Virginia Tech baseball team won its 15th non-conference game of the season Wednesday night at Thomas Stadium as Kerry Carpenter knocked in two runs and the Hokies pitchers limited ETSU to four hits in a 4-2 victory.
The 15 wins are the most by the program since the 2013 season, when the team won 20 non-conference games during the regular season, the last of 11 straight years of winning at least 15. The victory is also the second over ETSU this season, while the Hokies have now won three straight overall.
In a contest tied at 2-2 in the seventh, the Hokies took the lead for good with a two-spot in the top of the inning. Jack Owens singled for the second time in the game to lead off the frame and moved to second on a Nick Biddison sac bunt.
Carson Taylor followed with his first collegiate triple that drove in Owens, his second run scored of the night. Carpenter then plated Taylor with his second RBI of the night, his team-leading 36th of the season, with a sacrifice fly to center.
Jaison Heard picked up his first collegiate win at Tech as he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief and Zach Brzykcy earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
ETSU (23-9) grabbed its only lead in the first as the Buccaneers used a pair of hit by pitches sandwiched around a single to load the bases with just one out. A grounder by Cade Gilbert scored Jake Lyle and the Bucs were up 1-0.
The Hokies tied the game in the third. Owens singled to lead off the frame and moved to second when Taylor was hit by a pitch. Carpenter then singled through the right side scoring Owens.
The Hokies put another tally on the board in the fourth, loading the bases on two walks, and their third hit-by-pitch of the evening. With two outs, Biddison drew the third walk of the inning, which scored Dalton Harum and gave Tech a 2-1 lead.
With that RBI grounder for ETSU in the first, it started a string of 14 straight Buccaneer batters retired by Tech pitching. Luke Scherzer ended his night with eight straight outs, while Peyton Alford pitched a perfect fourth and fifth, striking out four.
The streak ended on a 13-pitch at-bat for David Beam that resulted in a walk that led off the sixth. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on an RBI single by Cullen Smith.
Up Next
Tech (20-14) opens a three-game ACC series in Durham, N.C. against Duke on Friday with first pitch at Jack Coombs Field currently set for 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's games both have a start time of 1 p.m.