BLACKSBURG – Despite sophomore right-hander Griffin Stieg's five and two-thirds scoreless innings pitched on Sunday, the Virginia Tech baseball team succumbed to a handful of late defensive mistakes as the Hokies' six-game winning streak was snapped by Stony Brook, 4-3, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Stieg shined while achieving a career long on the mound, striking out five Seawolves while holding the visitors to five hits and walking a pair. The second-year hurler faced no worse than runners at the corners during the top of the third inning, tapping out at 91 pitches during the sixth inning and leaving one base runner for David Shoemaker to negotiate in relief.
Stalemated by effective pitching, Virginia Tech (8-3) was limited to only one run against starter Nicholas Rizzo, breaking through during the bottom of the third inning. In the wake of Christian Martin's leadoff double to left field, Stony Brook (4-7) was unable to turn a double play on Chris Cannizzaro's chopper to the left side, advancing Martin into a position from which he could score on Eddie Micheletti Jr.'s ensuing sacrifice fly.
Tech missed chances to build its lead during the middle innings, none presenting better than during the fifth inning when Martin's bunted single moved Clay Grady into scoring position with no outs. However, the Seawolves were set perfectly in defense of Carson DeMartini's ground ball to second base, turning the 6-4-3 double play that disrupted the Hokies' rally.
Virginia Tech's 1-0 lead met its untimely demise during the top of the seventh inning when the Hokies committed two throwing errors on Chris Carson's stolen base attempt, allowing him to score from first base. Henry Cooke's snap throw to second base bounced short of the bag and into the outfield, where Ben Watson's incoming delivery to third base bounced away and out of play, scoring the game-tying run by default.
Errant throws by Tech defenders carried into the eighth inning where Stony Brook took its first lead. Facing runners at first and second base, Grady began the potential inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play by flipping to Martin, who struggled with his grip and threw errantly past Ethan Gibson, allowing Evan Goforth to score the go-ahead run from second base.
Evan Fox's single to left field during the ninth inning went down as the Seawolves' only hit as Stony Brook rode out three walks by the Hokies to tack on two insurance runs and pull ahead, 4-1. Brady Kirtner worked a 3-0 count to Matt Brown-Eiring before surrendering the intentional pass that loaded the bases, leaving Jordan Vera no margin to issue his four-pitch walk to Erik Paulsen.
Quiet through eight innings, Virginia Tech's offense went down swinging during the bottom of the ninth inning, compiling two runs on four hits and introducing the potential game-tying and game-winning runs.
Sam Tackett and Gehrig Ebel started Tech's rally by smacking back-to-back leadoff singles through the right side with Tackett soon taking third base on David McCann's fly ball to center field. Cooke halved the deficit to 4-2 with his RBI single to right field while Grady fed his RBI single through another hole on the right side, sliding the Hokies within the 4-3 score line.
However, Stony Brook elected to swap arms for closer Quinlan Montgomery, who on one pitch forced Martin to ground into the game-ending, 4-6-3 double play.
Tackett went 3-for-4 to lead Virginia Tech while Grady finished 2-for-4 in the nine spot. Fox and Brett Paulsen both notched multi-hit games for the Seawolves while designated hitter and reliever Erik Paulsen recorded an RBI and the win, pitching three innings.
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Virginia Tech will host Binghamton on Wednesday, March 6, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the Bearcats is scheduled for 4 p.m.Gallery: (3-3-2024) BSB: Stony Brook Game 3