Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Conceding a handful of big innings to its opposition on Tuesday, the Virginia Tech baseball team wound up on the wrong side of a lopsided midweek contest as the Hokies played to the 13-4 defeat against Marshall at English Field.
Leadoff men Sam Grube (2-for-3) and Pete Daniel (2-for-4) joined nine-hitter Hudson Lutterman (2-for-4) in producing six of the Hokies’ nine hits, including their lone extra-base knock of the afternoon – an RBI double by Daniel during the bottom of the third inning. Nick Locurto drew three walks off the Thundering Herd to extend his on-base streak to seven consecutive games while freshman infielder Willie Hurt came away with his first collegiate hit during the bottom of the eighth inning.
Virginia Tech (7-5) built a 3-1 lead through three innings of play with all signs indicating big offensive returns throughout the remainder of the day. By then, the Hokies had brought 16 batters to the plate and stolen seven bases (season high) – five during the third inning – including a split double steal by Locurto (second base) and Daniel (home) that produced the team’s third run of the ballgame.
However, Virginia Tech’s hold on the game slipped during the top of the fourth inning when Cooper Hinson’s leadoff single kicked off a six-hit, five-run barrage by Marshall (5-6) that shot them out to the 6-3 lead. Mason Onate’s hustle RBI double off starter Ben Weber spun momentum against the Hokies, setting the table for Jack Smith to deliver the game-tying RBI single during the ensuing at-bat.
In relief of Weber, Preston Crowl surrendered the go-ahead RBI single to Evan Bottone as the Thundering Herd continued to pepper Virginia Tech’s arms with contact. Two batters later, Jackson Halter ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line, scoring Wil Gubba and Bottone while simultaneously putting an end to Crowl’s spell on the mound.
Ethan Murdoch led off the fifth inning with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw from Luke Craytor, carrying it to left field to extend Marshall’s lead to 7-3. After left-hander Landen Doll had struck out the Hokies in order during the bottom of the inning, the Thundering Herd cashed in for two more runs during the top of the sixth inning, receiving RBI singles from Tyler Kamerer and Hinson.
Virginia Tech pulled within 9-4 during the bottom of the sixth inning when Sam Gates connected on a leadoff single into left field, later scoring from second base on Lutterman’s RBI knock to the same part of the ballpark. From the moment Marshall had pulled ahead for the first time, the Hokies were held to one run on six hits, struck out eight times, presented only two runners at third base and did not attempt a stolen base.
Marshall put the game away during the top of the seventh inning, turning an infield error by Daniel into four unearned runs against right-hander Peyton Smith. Daniel’s blunder resulted immediately in the two-base error that scored a pair of runs, residually leaving the inning unlocked for Hinson to come through later with his two-RBI double.
Despite registering 12 strikeouts as a staff, Virginia Tech allowed a season high in hits (18) – the second highest season total to date by Marshall’s offense. Bottone went 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot in the Thundering Herd’s lineup, sharing in three-hit performances with Hinson (3-for-5) and Gubba (3-for-5).
Doll pitched the final six innings for Marshall, accounting for eight of the Thundering Herd’s 12 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will begin ACC play with a three-game road series at No. 5 Georgia Tech beginning on Friday, March 6. Game times between the Hokies and the Yellow Jackets at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday (March 7) and 1 p.m. on Sunday (March 8).