Jesse Hahn (#21) pitching for the Hokies at the Tech vs. Duke game.
With the Hokies up 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning and threatening to score, the Virginia Tech baseball team appeared to be on its way to a needed victory in the Columbia, S.C. regional final against the University of South Carolina.
While “Sir Big Spur,” USC’s live gamecock, sat on a perch behind the first base line stands and began to crow, fans took notice. Carolina Stadium started buzzing with chatter after each of “Sir Big Spur’s” three crows, and the Gamecock faithful were convinced it was a sign that the tide would
turn in their favor — and they were right.
USC pitcher Jose Mata entered the game to relieve starter Jay Brown to get the Gamecocks out of the jam, and the Hokies only mustered two hits for the rest of the game.
The Gamecocks then scored a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to pull within one, and they broke open the game with a six run six outs.
Tech could not stop the bleeding in subsequent innings, and the Cocks went on to a 2-10 victory over the Hokies to advance to the super regional round.
Entering the game, the Hokies were already in an incredibly difficult position to win the regional.
After a loss in the first game against The Citadel with junior ace Justin Wright on the mound, the Hokies had to battle through the loser’s bracket to even make it to the finals.
In its first elimination game against the Bucknell Bison, a nearly two hour long rain delay forced Tech to take out No. 2 starter Mathew Price after just one inning of work and 17 total pitches. When play resumed, the Hokies were up 5-0 and tacked on another four runs before they were retired.
Entering the bottom half of the second inning, Tech head coach Pete Hughes went to some lesser-used bullpen arms and saved his best pitchers for Sunday, winning 16-7.
Still, the Hokies faced an uphill battle, needing to win twice on Sunday and again on Monday to advance, and the baseball Gods were not with them.
On Sunday afternoon, Tech started junior right-hander Jesse Hahn, and he dominated the Bulldogs through three innings while the Hokies’ hitters produced a 3-0 lead.
A version of this article appeared in the Jun 10 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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