BLACKSBURG – In a doubleheader at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park on Sunday afternoon, the Virginia Tech baseball team outscored the visiting Bryant Bulldogs by a 17-4 count to finish off a sweep of the weekend, improve to 5-0 overall at home and increase their win streak to six straight.
The Hokies used strong starting pitching and a flawless bullpen to pick up the doubleheader victory. Tech won the first game 7-2 as Anthony Simonelli improved to 2-1 on the season after tossing a season-high 6.0 innings and striking out a season-high eight batters.
Ian Seymour is now 3-0 on the mound after Tech's 10-2 win in the second game, as he worked 5.1 innings and struck out nine Bulldogs. On the day, the bullpen did not allow a run over a combined 6.2 innings with nine strikeouts.
At the plate, Tech got all of its run support in the first inning, as Kevin Madden drew a bases loaded walk to plate the day's first run and Cade Hunter hit a two-out, two-RBI single to make it 3-0.
Spencer Palmer added a sacrifice fly in the third, Fritz Genther hit his first Hokie home run in the fourth and two unearned runs crossed the plate in the fifth to finish off the first game's scoring.
Tied 1-1 through four in the second game, Nick Biddison sparked a three-run fifth with a leadoff, solo home run – his first of the year, ninth of his career. Tanner Thomas singled home Carson Taylor, who in the day went 0-for-1 but was on base seven times (five walks and two hit-by-pitches) and scored three times, and Gavin Cross scored on a wild pitch.
Biddison added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it a 5-2 game and a five-run eighth, highlighted by Cross' two-RBI double and Madden's RBI triple put the game away.
Quick notes:
- With the sweep, Tech improves its all-time record against Bryant to 7-6.
- Tech's starting pitchers have combined to strikeout 73 batters in 51.2 innings pitched, are 6-2 on the season with a 1.74 ERA.
- Tech's six-game winning streak is the longest since a seven-game streak that started the 2019 season (Feb. 15-Feb. 26).
- The Hokies have started 5-0 at home for the first time since the team won five straight to open the 2016 season.
- The six-game home winning streak (dating back to last season) is the longest since the team won 11 straight from April 28, 2015 through March 4, 2016.
Up Next:
The Hokies will take a day off before returning to the field for a pair of midweek games - Tuesday at High Point and Wednesday versus Marshall. Both games are scheduled for 4 p.m. starts.Gallery: (3/1/2020) 2020 BASEBALL DOUBLEHEADER vs. BRYANT