Collegiate Times

In a cross-town rivalry match-up, the Hokies (27-17) defeated the Radford Highlanders (20-19) at English Field on Tuesday by a score of 10-4.

Rain postponed the game by 45 minutes, but the delay didn't affect the Tech bats as they put up five runs in the first two innings.

The top four in the order-senior Klint Reed, junior Mike Kaminski, sophomore Austin Wates and junior Steve Bumbry-went a combined 9-for-16, scored seven runs, walked three times and stole three bases.

"That's going to be the spark of our order," Bumbry said.  "Once we start to get going, everyone jumps on the bandwagon."

"That's why they're up top," said head coach Pete Hughes.

Wates again led the Hokies offense going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs.  Wates made a minor adjustment in his approach to get his foot down earlier for better contact, and it's been working.

"When you're in the ACC you have guys who spot their pitches better and have higher velocity, and you don't get your foot down," Wates said. "All your timing goes off; you don't get your hips through and your hands don't work as quick.  Basically, my bat was dragging through the zone but now that I fixed that, I'm hitting a lot better."

"Austin's starting to see it again," Hughes said.  "Everything is on the barrel.  He's not getting out of the zone with his approach.  When he's on, he's pretty good, and he's coming on at the right time."

Bumbry, who bats left-handed, played in the cleanup spot against Radford right-handed starter Josh Hammonds and finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple.

"It all just came down to sticking with my approach with every at-bat," Bumbry said. "Just go out and put a good swing on a ball."

Even when a lefty, Mark Beppler, came in to pitch against Bumbry, he made contact and got hits.

"I like the fact that he hit lefties tonight," Hughes said, "and Florida State's best guy, Sean Gilmartin, is a left-hander and we need to get Steve going."  

Tech will travel down to Tallahassee, Fla., this weekend for a three-game set against the No. 9 Seminoles (30-12, 15-7 ACC). 

The series is crucial for Tech's goal of making the ACC tournament. The Hokies (10-13 in the ACC), Duke (29-17, 12-12 ACC), and Boston College (27-17, 11-11 ACC) are jockeying for the last two spots in the field.

The two top teams from each division get an automatic bid and the following four best teams of either division (in win percentage) fill out the eight-team bracket.

The Hokies' goal is to take at least two from the Seminoles.

"It's going to be a make-or-break series," Wates said, "but I think we have the depth to do it.  It's going to be up to our pitching and defense, because we can hit with the best of them."

"We just have to play clean," Hughes said. "We have to swing the bats better than we did last weekend and get consistent starting pitching.  If we can get those, we will get it done because we match up good against Florida State."

First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.