BLACKSBURG – A night after dropping its seventh one-run contest in ACC play, the Virginia Tech baseball team pounded out 15 hits – five Hokies had multi-hit games – and scored multiple runs in five innings to register a 15-8 victory over Boston College Sunday night at English Field at Union Park.
Leading the attack at the plate was Kevin Madden, who had a game-high four hits and drove in three runs, one of three Hokies with three RBI on the night. Tanner Thomas had three hits, including a two-RBI triple in the first, and three RBI and Nick Owens' three-RBI double put Tech up 8-1 after the fifth inning.
Boston College (25-25, 9-17 ACC) did not go quietly, though, sending 13 Eagles to the plate in the top of the sixth and scoring seven runs to tie the game at 8-8.
Michael Fernandez, who had two hits, led off the home half with a double and Nick Holesa knocked him in with a single as Tech claimed the lead again. Holesa came across the plate on Madden's first RBI hit of the game to make it 10-8.
In the seventh, Nick Biddison doubled home two runs, Madden singled in two and Thomas added an RBI double as the Hokies took their second seven-run lead of the evening, which would hold this time.
The BC rally ruined Tech starter Chris Gerard's solid five-inning start. He allowed just one run on one hit and struck out four. Zach Brzykcy improved to 4-0 as he ended the Eagles' sixth by striking out Jack Cunningham with the bases loaded.
Ryan Okuda earned his first collegiate save with three scoreless innings pitched to end the night, scattering four hits and striking out three.
Kerry Carpenter, who scored a game-high four runs, hit a two-run home run in the third, his team-high tying ninth of the season, which had given the Hokies a 4-0 lead at the time.
Up Next
Tech (25-23, 8-18 ACC) and Boston College will play the pivotal rubber match of the ACC series at English Field at Union Park on Monday night in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPNU that begins at 7 p.m. CLICK HERE to see how Tech's Athletics video staff has been preparing for the school's first linear broadcast. It will also be a Hokies-for-Hokies game.
A reminder to fans looking to attend any Monday's game against the Eagles, or any of the final ACC three-game series with Virginia (May 16-18), tickets are required for ACC home games this season. CLICK HERE to purchase in advance. For those attending this weekend's games, please visit our GAMEDAY CENTRAL PAGE for more information about parking, prohibited items and an A to Z Guide on English Field at Union Park.
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