WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Sophomore Kevin Madden put together a stellar performance at the plate Saturday, hitting two home runs to help power the No. 23 Virginia Tech Hokies over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 16-4.
Junior Anthony Simonelli (3-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Virginia Tech (18-9, 13-7). The right-hander went 6.1 innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on one hit, allowing four walks and striking out seven. Freshman Griffin Green also made an impact on the mound for the Hokies, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Madden went 2-for-5 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with five RBIs. Freshman Jack Hurley added to Madden's awesome power-hitting performance by going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Freshman TJ Rumfield also helped out for the Hokies, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Hokies first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Sophomore Nick Biddison put Virginia Tech on the board with a leadoff home run off junior William Fleming.
The score stayed at 1-1 until the very next inning, when the Hokies put runs on the scoreboard once again. Virginia Tech hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing seven runs across. which brought the score to 8-1 in favor of the Hokies.
Virginia Tech kept Wake Forest scoreless before expanding their lead to 12-1 the following inning. The Hokies hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring four runs.
The Demon Deacons fought back, closing the gap to 12-4 until Virginia Tech added some insurance in the eighth. A grand slam from Madden off freshman Crawford Wade cashed in four runs in the frame for the Hokies, bringing the score to 16-4 in favor of Virginia Tech. The score remained 16-4 for the rest of the game, as the Hokies coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Hurley had three base knocks in the game for Virginia Tech.
» Simonelli struck out seven Demon Deacons hitters.
» The Hokies had both Madden and Hurley smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Every Virginia Tech starter reached base safely in the win.
» Virginia Tech's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» Simonelli put together 6.1 innings of two-run ball for the Hokies.
» Five Hokies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Virginia Tech hitters hit six home runs in the ballgame - a season high.
» The Hokies out-hit the Demon Deacons at a 15-4 clip.
» Virginia Tech went 6-for-11 (.545) with runners in scoring position.
» Virginia Tech pitchers faced 36 Wake Forest hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out 11.
» Madden led the Hokies at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs.