BLACKSBURG, Va. – Receiving eight strikeouts and five shutout innings from fifth-year senior Ryan Okuda on Saturday, the Virginia Tech baseball team powered its way past UNC Asheville for the second straight day, clinching the series with its 8-1 victory at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Okuda surrendered a hit and two walks, departing a one-run ballgame before the sixth inning. Graham Firoved proceeded to blank the Bulldogs during the sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts while Jonah Hurney and Brady Kirtner put the finishing touches on Tech's four-hitter.
As he did during his collegiate debut on Friday, rookie third baseman Carson DeMartini homered again in style for Virginia Tech (2-0). From the left side of the plate, the Virginia Beach, Virginia, native broke the game open during the bottom of the sixth inning, driving an 0-1 pitch to right field for the three-run blast that cushioned the Hokies' lead to 5-0.
Conor Hartigan's second-inning double off the glove of Grayson Preslar set the table for Tech to score its lone run (unearned) against UNC Asheville starter Jacob Edwards, who matched Okuda's five innings and eight strikeouts.
Nick Biddison went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run to lead the Hokies' lineup that totaled 10 hits against the Bulldogs. Biddison provided the RBI single that preceded DeMartini's homer in the sixth inning, later parking a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to open Tech's three-run eighth inning.
Jack Hurley drove in the Hokies' final two runs against UNC Asheville (0-2), cracking a two-RBI double to center field.
UP NEXT
Tech will play for the season-opening series sweep against the Bulldogs on Sunday, Feb. 20. First pitch at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Gallery: (2-19-2022) BSB: UNC Asheville Game 2