BLACKSBURG – Battling back from 5-0 down on Tuesday night, the No. 8 Virginia Tech baseball team earned its best come-from-behind win of the season as the Hokies upended VMI, 9-6, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Fifth-year outfielder Conor Hartigan batted in four runs from two run-scoring doubles to lead Virginia Tech (24-9), which has now won 14 of its last 17 games. Gavin Cross put on a 3-for-5 show to lead the top of Tech's lineup – the first four batters of which combined to hit 9-for-18 (.500) and yield three of the Hokies' eight doubles.
VMI (12-26) put Tech on upset alert early as the Keydets sprinted out to the 5-0 lead during the top of the second inning against left-hander Ryan Kennedy. Cole Garrett connected on the go-ahead, three-run home run for VMI, two batters before Brett Cook struck a two-run homer that ended Kennedy's night prematurely.
Tech worked itself back into the game during the bottom of the third inning, staging a five-run rally behind leadoff doubles by Nick Biddison and Gavin Cross. Tanner Schobel and Jack Hurley both singled through the left side to bring the Hokies within 5-2 while Hartigan offloaded the two-RBI double down the left field line that pulled Tech within a run.
After VMI had swapped pitchers, Christian Martin scooted the game-tying RBI double down the left field line, resetting the contest at five runs apiece.
Sloppy defending was the theme of the fourth inning by both sides. Despite VMI turning an error and a passed ball into a 6-5 lead, Tech caught a fortunate break when Cade Hunter's lazy fly ball to left center dropped between two outfielders, turning into the two-RBI double that provided the Hokies with their first lead at 7-6.
Hartigan padded Tech's lead to 9-6 during the bottom of the sixth inning, delivering his second two-RBI double of the game.
Fifth-year senior Ryan Metz allowed one run (unearned) across three innings of relief, striking out four batters while walking none to earn his first winning decision since the 2020 season. Graham Firoved and Kiernan Higgins closed the door on the Keydets down the stretch with Higgins collecting the six-out save.
In all, Tech's five pitchers accounted for 12 strikeouts while issuing three walks.
UP NEXT
No. 8 Virginia Tech will return to action on Wednesday, April 20, when the Hokies visit nearby Radford. First pitch Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.Gallery: (4-19-2022) BSB: VMI Game