BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech baseball pitching staff combined to allow the Louisburg offense just two hits over 10 innings and struck out 15 Hurricanes as the Hokies closed out their fall exhibition season with a 6-4 victory at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park Friday afternoon.
Highlighting the team's efforts on the mound were seniors Peyton Alford and Jaison Heard, who each struck out four batters in 2.0 relief innings, with Heard retiring all six batters he faced. Anthony Simonelli also worked 2.0 relief innings and struck out two for Tech.
Chris Gerard got the start on the mound and tossed a scoreless first, while Stephen Restuccio (sixth) and Henry Weycker (ninth) each threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen as well.
Offensively, the Hokies took a four-run after four innings, with Fritz Genther driving home Tanner Thomas with a sacrifice fly in the third to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, Tech took advantage of two walks and a hit-by-pitch to plate three. The first was on a sacrifice fly by Thomas, the second was on a bases-loaded walk by Genther and Reagan Teegarden scored on an error to make it 4-0.
Louisburg scored an unearned run in the fifth and sixth to pull to within two, but Teegarden scored again on an error in the sixth, after doubling and stealing third, and Lucan Donlon crossed the plate in the eighth to make it 6-2.
The Hurricanes hit a two-run home run in the final frame (the team's were scheduled to play 10 innings), but Nathan Starliper came in to close out the game and secure the win.
Up Next:
Tech's fall exhibition season is over, but the Hokies' Fall World Series continues next Tuesday, Oct. 30 with Game 3 starting at 4 p.m. The series is tied at one game apiece. All games will be played at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.