Hokie ClubWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Senior Tanner Thomas and sophomore Nick Biddison each racked up two extra base hits to help lead the No. 23 Virginia Tech Hokies past the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 10-9 on Sunday.
Junior Shane Connolly (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Virginia Tech (19-9, 14-7). The left-hander went 3.1 innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out three. Sophomore Graham Firoved got the save, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
Biddison's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-5 day, and included a triple, a home run and an RBI. Thomas made his contribution with a double, a home run, a walk and two RBIs, part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Freshman Tanner Schobel also chipped in for the Hokies, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and three RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hokies got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Virginia Tech scored twice in the inning, including one on a solo shot from Biddison.
The Demon Deacons then tied the ballgame at two before the Hokies came back to reclaim their advantage in the fourth inning. Virginia Tech scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Schobel, scoring freshman TJ Rumfield and sophomore Kevin Madden, which brought the score to 5-2 in favor of the Hokies.
Wake Forest narrowed Virginia Tech's lead to 5-3 before the Hokies stretched the advantage to 8-3 in the fifth inning. The Hokies picked up three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run single off the bat of Rumfield.
The Demon Deacons fought back, closing the gap to 8-5 until Virginia Tech added some insurance in the sixth. The Hokies scored twice on Thomas' two-run homer, bringing the Virginia Tech advantage to 10-5. Wake Forest put four runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Hokies still held on for the 10-9 win.
GAME NOTES
» Sophomore Chris Gerard struck out five Demon Deacons hitters.
» The Hokies had both Thomas and Biddison smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Rumfield and Schobel drove in three runs each for the Hokies.
» Tech's 10 home runs are a program record for a single ACC series.
» With the sweep at Wake, the Hokies now have nine ACC road wins - a program record.