BLACKSBURG – Riding the big swings of its two .400 hitters on Tuesday, the Virginia Tech baseball team moved through Marshall with relative ease, collecting the 6-2 victory at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Virginia Tech (18-7) scored its six runs entirely off the sticks of sophomore outfielder Jack Hurley and third-year catcher Cade Hunter, who departed Tuesday's game batting .464 and .409 this season, respectively. Hurley went 2-for-2 from the Hokies' cleanup spot with a double, a home run and two walks while Hunter batted 3-for-4, matching Hurley with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Hurley wasted no time advancing his hitting streak to 24 consecutive games, tying Tech's ACC-era program record that first belonged to Steve Domecus (2009). With two runners aboard during the bottom of the first inning, Hurley smoked the first pitch he saw from Ryan Capuano, dropping it 435 feet from the plate over the center field wall.
Fifth-year right-hander Ryan Metz preserved Tech's 3-0 lead through the duration of his start, equaling his career long outing at three and one-third innings. Metz kept Marshall (13-15-1) scoreless, recording three strikeouts while walking a batter and allowing three hits.
Hurley's one-out double during the bottom of the sixth inning set the table for the Hokies to add to their lead. With Hurley taking third base on Eduardo Malinowski's infield ball, Hunter stroked an easy line drive to left center, turning on the jets for a hustle RBI double.
Despite Marshall spoiling Tech's shutout during the eighth inning, Hunter put the exclamation point on the Hokies' day, shuttling a two-run home run to left field to extend the hosts' lead to 6-1.
Kiernan Higgins sealed Tech's victory during the ninth inning, picking up the three-strike save after the Thundering Herd had loaded the bases and plated a run with two outs.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will open a three-game ACC home series against No. 21 NC State on Friday, April 8. First pitch at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.Gallery: (4-5-2022) BSB: Marshall Game