BLACKSBURG – With five pitchers combining for 10 strikeouts and no walks on Tuesday afternoon, the No. 13 Virginia Tech baseball team won its seventh consecutive game by clipping Marshall, 4-2, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Sophomore right-hander Jordan Vera racked up six strikeouts through his midweek start lasting three and two-thirds innings – both season highs for the transfer from Ole Miss. Despite the Thundering Herd scratching a run against him during the first inning, Vera settled in quick with the benefit of run support by the Hokies, scattering five hits (one extra-base hit) without walking a batter.
Henry Cooke's bases-clearing double during the bottom of the first inning proved to be the difference for Virginia Tech (19-4), which has now won 17 of its last 19 games. The Hokies' seven-game winning streak stands as the program's longest since March 2023.
After Marshall (8-16) had jumped out to the 1-0 lead, Tech became the benefactor of three walks during the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases without a hit. Visiting starter Chad Heiner struggled to find the zone early, walking Christian Martin and Carson DeMartini on his first nine pitches, shortly before issuing another four-pitch walk to cleanup man Eddie Micheletti Jr.
Induing a foul fly to Ben Watson for the second out of the inning, Heiner missed high on his ensuing 2-1 pitch to Cooke, who proceeded to drive the alley into right center field, plating all three runners. Cooke's seventh double of the spring resulted in the 20th through 22nd RBIs of his sophomore season, installing a 3-1 lead for the Hokies that would hold for the rest of the day.
Rookie designated hitter David McCann extended Tech's lead to 4-1 during the home half of the fourth inning, parking a leadoff home run 437 feet over the wall in right center field. McCann's five home runs this season rank as the second most by the Hokies' newcomers, trailing Michelletti's nine in the category.
Jacob Exum relieved Andrew Sentlinger at the start of the fifth inning, collecting six outs from seven batters faced during his two scoreless innings on the mound. Exum's performance was prestine enough to land him Tuesday's winning decision – the first of the right-hander's sophomore campaign.
Like Exum, Preston Crowl picked up six outs through two scoreless innings of relief, protecting Tech's 4-1 lead into the ninth inning.
Tasked with securing his third save since Friday, Jordan Little met Marshall's first true resistance during the top of the ninth inning. Leadoff singles by Cam Harthan and AJ Havrilla introduced the potential tying run at the plate for the Thundering Herd before Little's maneuvers ultimately deepened the tension.
Little was called for a balk prior to hitting Jay Kehoe on the hands, loading the bases for Marshall with no outs recorded during the inning. However, the right-hander stayed the course for the Hokies, surrendering an RBI groundout to Kebler Peralta before finding the final two outs of the game for his fourth save of the season.
Harthan, Havrilla and Peralta co-led Marshall with a trio of 2-for-4 batting performances. Right-hander Alex McKay struck out four Tech batters in late relief for the Thundering Herd.
Virginia Tech tied its season low for runs (four) and hits (six) recorded during a victory this season.
UP NEXT
No. 13 Virginia Tech will remain home and host a three-game ACC series against Pitt beginning on Thursday, March 28. Game times between the Hokies and the Panthers at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park are scheduled for 4 p.m. each day between Thursday (March 28) and Saturday (March 30).
Gallery: (3-26-2024) BSB: Marshall Game