Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Hammering three home runs (including freshman Ethan Ball’s walk-off) during the bottom of the 10th inning on Saturday, the Virginia Tech baseball team staged one of the program’s most electric, never-say-die comebacks spanning more than two decades as the Hokies stunned Rutgers, 9-8, to level the teams’ three-game series at English Field.
Virginia Tech (5-1) faced deficits of 5-3 entering the ninth inning and 8-5 heading into the 10th inning only to rally twice in spectacular fashion.
After squandering three two-out runs to Rutgers (4-2) during the top of the 10th inning, sophomores Hudson Lutterman and Sam Grube assured the Hokies would fight on, powering back-to-back solo home runs to opposite sides of the ballpark. Lutterman pulled his mile-high fly ball to left field, parking it on the netting above the home bullpen for his first homer of the season while Grube – who had first homered during the fifth inning – rocketed a line drive to right center field for his second round-trip swing of the night.
Creeping within a run at 8-7, Virginia Tech introduced pinch hitter Nick Locurto before the Scarlet Knights motioned for left-hander Jordan Savinon, who entered in need of finding the game’s final two outs. However, Locurto battled Savinon to a full count and walked, introducing the game-tying run on the bases while bringing Ball – hitless at 0-for-4 – to the plate in a high-leverage at-bat.
As Locurto had done, Ball worked a full count off Savinon before pummeling the payoff pitch to straightaway center field (estimated 423 feet), ecstatically emptying the Hokies’ dugout in jubilee.
On the bat of Ball’s two-run, walk-off homer, Virginia Tech set its ACC-era record for largest comeback victory when trailing during extra innings. Through six season-opening games, the Hokies have now sported five come-from-behind triumphs, including two walk-off wins after trailing during the final inning of play.
“[That was] just a very exciting baseball game,” said Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc. “I think if you’re a true baseball fan and you appreciate the back-and-forth, you can certainly appreciate that [game].
“I think the game is built on toughness and our guys certainly demonstrated that more than one time. We came back from multiple different deficits. I give our guys a lot of credit.”
As magical as Virginia Tech’s 10th inning came to be, it would have been for naught had the Hokies been unable to claw back from two runs down during the bottom of the ninth inning.
Grube’s one-out double to right center – part of his 4-for-5 day at the plate featuring three extra-base hits – provided Virginia Tech with a much-needed spark as it was seeking its first run since fifth inning. Three pitches later, Owen Petrich brought Grube home when he connected on his RBI single into left field, trimming the score line to 5-4 with two outs left to be recorded.
Patiently, the Hokies benefitted from an untimely loss of command by the Scarlet Knights’ closer, Jason Masick, who issued walks to Ball and Sam Gates to load the bases. After delivering a first-pitch strike to Anderson French, Masick missed four consecutive times out of the zone, walking in pinch-runner Willie Hurt to tie the game at 5-5 and force extra innings.
Following Friday’s 16-run, 17-hit performance, Rutgers was the aggressor early on Saturday as the Scarlet Knights struck for two runs apiece during the first and third innings. Virginia Tech starter Griffin Stieg lasted four and one-third innings and was on the hook for all four runs (three earned), scattering seven hits while striking out four.
Stieg surrendered a pair of leadoff singles to Peyton Bonds and Chase Krewson to begin the game which created too much traffic for the Hokies to negotiate. Charlie Meglio grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that produced the game’s opening run, but Pete Daniel’s infield collision with Petrich’s fielding of the inning-ending pop up invited the Scarlet Knights to steal another run for the 2-0 lead.
Grube and Petrich replied with matching back-to-back leadoff singles during the bottom of the first innings, both coming around to score later on French’s two-out, two-RBI single with the bases loaded. French finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs (team high) in addition to walking twice.
Deadlocked at 2-2, Rutgers charged out to the 4-2 advantage during the third inning behind consecutive leadoff doubles by Meglio and Trey Wells. Virginia Tech chipped a run back on Grube’s leadoff homer that opened the bottom of the fifth inning, only to squander the margin back during the sixth inning on a solo home run by Ryan Jaros.
Chase Swift shined again for the Hokies during his third relief outing of the season, fanning six batters without issuing a walk through two and two-thirds innings. Logan Eisenreich added two-plus innings for the home team, blanking the Scarlet Knights during the eighth and ninth innings to give the offense a fighting chance.
Zack Konstantinovsky started for Rutgers and threw four and one-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Fellow right-hander Vincent Borghese struck out eight batters through four innings for the Scarlet Knights, through was denied the winning decision due to Masick’s blown save.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will contend the rubber match against Rutgers on Sunday, Feb. 21, at English Field. First pitch between the Hokies and the Scarlet Knights is scheduled for noon ET.
REMAINING SERIES PROBABLE STARTERS
• Sunday (Feb. 22): TBA vs. Ethan Grim (RHP, 0-0, 2.25 ERA)