RADFORD, Va. – Despite receiving four hits from sophomore second baseman Christian Martin on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team lost its stride with Radford midway through the teams' midweek affair as the Hokies played to the 16-8 defeat at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium.
Martin opened 4-for-4 to set a career high in hits, scattering four singles around the yard to go with two runs and an RBI. Batting second, Martin immediately preceded junior outfielder Jack Hurley, who walked three times in addition to doubling during the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games.
With the loss, Virginia Tech (21-13) witnessed the end of its seven-game, head-to-head winning streak against its regional foe. In victory, Radford (8-30) snapped its 22-game losing streak, which had started the day as the nation's longest at the NCAA Division I level.
After setting the program's single-game walks record (18) on Saturday against Georgia Tech, the Hokies patiently waited out 12 walks by the Highlanders' staff. Eddie Eisert tied Hurley for the team lead with three walks while leadoff outfielder Carson Jones walked twice.
Martin and Garrett Michel introduced two singles during the top of the first inning that helped lead to a pair of runs for the visitors. Michel went on to deliver a lazy, two-RBI double for Tech during the top of the second inning – part of the Hokies' nine-batter rally that produced four runs and left them lying a 6-2 lead.
Leading the nation in fielding percentage at the beginning of the day, Virginia Tech was betrayed by its defending, uncharacteristically committing four errors, a season high. Altogether, the Hokies combined to allow eight unearned runs, setting them back in an 11-6 deficit by the end of the third inning.
Aggressive base running during the fourth inning by Clay Grady helped David Bryant come away with two RBIs on his sacrifice fly to the warning track. Following Eisert ahead of him at third base, Grady hustled to score from second base, trimming Radford's lead to 11-8. However, the Highlanders proceeded to post two more crooked numbers during the fourth and fifth innings, providing them with an insurmountable lead by the game's midway point.
Virginia Tech was kept to two hits from the fifth inning onward, though was granted eight free bases by Radford. Veteran reliever Matthew Siverling held the Highlanders scoreless across the game's final three and one-third innings, allowing a solitary hit.
Center fielder Cameron Pittman walked five times to lead Radford while shortstop Avery Spencer went 3-for-6 behind him, finishing with four RBIs. Garrett Pancione delivered the three-run home run during the bottom of the third inning that put the Highlanders on top for good at 8-6.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will open a three-game ACC road series at Florida State on Friday, April 21. First pitch of Friday's opener between the Hokies and the Seminoles at Dick Howser Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. (airing on ACC Network).