Hokie ClubRICHMOND, Va. – On the bat of Sam Tackett’s RBI double during the eighth inning on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team broke its 5-5 stalemate with VCU to squeak out the 6-5 win at The Diamond.
With Clay Grady aboard at first base after drawing a two-out walk, Tackett pinch hit in the leadoff spot for Cam Pittman, working a favorable, 2-1 count against left-hander Elijah Coston. Turning on Coston’s 2-1 delivery, Tackett doubled to the wall past left fielder Nick Flores, plating Grady to provide the Hokies with their first lead since the second inning.
Virginia Tech (26-15) was held to three hits but benefitted from nine walks issued by the Rams, who also plunked three hit batsmen. David Lewis connected on the RBI single that put the Hokies ahead, 2-1, during the top of the second inning – the Hokies’ lone hit of the game until Tackett’s tiebreaking double.
Josh Berzonski pitched the final three scoreless innings for Virginia Tech’s bullpen, which did not allow a run from the fifth inning onward. Berzonski recorded three strikeouts and allowed two hits, stranding the game’s potential tying and winning runs on base during the bottom of the ninth inning.