Collegiate Times

The Hokies’ bats were working early and often in its 11-3 route of No. 29 VMI at English Field Tuesday afternoon.

Tech's attack began when Keydet starting pitcher Coby Cowgill struggled to locate his pitches early on, hitting Austin Wates in the first inning and walking two others.

The Hokies proceeded to post seven runs in the first three innings of the contest, forcing Cowgill to exit early in the third inning after allowing three straight doubles to second baseman Michael Seaborn, first baseman Matt Blow, and shortstop Tony Balisteri.

Left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie hit his first triple of the season in the second, as he and his brother Anthony Sosnoskie drove in two runs apiece in the game.

Center fielder Sean Ryan also had his way with Cowgill, going 2-2 against the righty, starting a very productive 3-5 day at the plate with two runs.

On the mound, Virginia Tech starter Manny Martir Jr. tossed six innings of three run ball, allowing just one earned run, and walked just one batter on his way to his second win of the season.

“I felt strong, went out there and threw pitchers for strikes, getting them to swing the bat,” said Martir.

Martir, starting in just his third game for the Hokies since transferring before the season, struck out a career-high 10 batters in the contest.

“I definitely like the team, love the team. Everybody’s got good chemistry,” Martir said. “Weather’s definitely a little different,” he chuckled.

The Hokies struggled against righty Chris Duty, who entered in relief of Cowgill in the third inning. Duty retired eight of the first nine Hokies he faced in three innings of work.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, however, catcher Steve Domecus cracked a two run single off reliever Jeremy Brown to reignite the Hokie offense. Later that inning, he and shortstop Tony Balisteri executed a double steal, with Balisteri swiping home.

In all, the Hokies scattered 12 hits off Keydet pitching, with 10 Hokies batters contributing to the parade, taking advantage of a strong wind out to left field.

“When you have that, you usually play the personnel who will exploit the conditions,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “But we don’t come in thinking about the conditions or trying to change your swing to go that way because it won’t usually be a productive swing path.”

Despite the prolific display on offense, the Hokies did strand 10 men on base.

“Early on we left a lot of runners out there when we could have put the game away,” Hughes said. “That’s a good offensive team and a six run lead is nothing with those guys, so we’ve got to do better in those situations.”

In relief, redshirt junior Justin Fisher pitched lights out, fanning five of the six batters he faced, tying his career high for strikeouts.  Ben Rowen took over in the eighth, and after surrendering a hit to third baseman Tanner Biagini, retired the next three batters to close out the game.

“At pitching, not only do we have depth but we have quality,” Hughes said. “Martir tonight, Justin Wright getting ACC pitcher of the week last week with Matt Price and Jessie Hahn, we’re deep.

“That’s years and years of recruitment and trying to build depth on the mound so you have quality guys pitching Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well.”

The one thorn in the Hokies’ side was Biagini, who went 3-4 on the day, driving in one run.

The Keydets loss is its third in a row against the Hokies and was the fourth in their last six games, dropping the team’s record to 20-5 on the season.

“We’ll take this win and use it for momentum tomorrow against a similar team that can really swing it, to be a good offensive team and really put up numbers and hopefully it’ll carry over to this weekend against Florida State,” Hughes said.

The Hokies (17-9) return to action Wednesday when they hit the road to take on East Tennessee State.