Collegiate Times

Walk. Hit-by-pitch. Wild pitch. Strikeout. Walk. Foul out. Walked run. Wild pitch for a run. Walk. Strikeout.

Virginia Tech's starting pitcher Evan Frederickson struggled mightily in the first inning against Richmond. Before one hit was allowed, he had already given up two runs. However, the Hokies recorded seven stolen bases to grab the win from the Spiders 12-9 at English Field.

Frederickson was more than erratic. In the second inning, he struck out the side before allowing four more runs in the third inning, forcing Tech head coach Pete Hughes to pull the plug.

"His reaction was frustration and disappointment," Hughes said. "We would really worry about him if he wasn't frustrated and disappointed after that outing. I told him that he needs to just get better."

After getting swept by Clemson over the weekend, Tech got back to what they do best by stealing bases. Richmond backup catcher Evan Stehle had only caught one base stealer all season, which made for easy pickin's for Tech speedster Nate Parks. His first inning steal set the tone on the day, especially after scoring later in the inning.

"We knew that they were pretty slow to the plate," Parks said. "If you can be a leadoff guy and get on and steal a base, that gives you three opportunities to get that guy in."

But the stealing didn't stop there. Amidst the struggles from Frederickson on the mound, the Hokies continued to produce runs with quickness on the bases. Richmond third baseman Austin Reilly tried to throw out Tech right fielder Sean Ryan on a bunt play, but launched the ball beyond the first baseman, allowing Steve Bumbry and Luke Padgett to score.

The offense continued to take advantage of the Richmond mistakes, but the Spiders held their own, leading 9-7 after five innings.

In the sixth inning, Tech picked up the intensity as Matt Hacker and Parks worked the double steal, leading to Warren Schaeffer's sacrifice fly to score Hacker from third. Parks then darted home on a wild pitch, tying the game at nine.

After a Sean O'Brien walk and a hit from Adam Redd, Luke Padgett stepped to the plate. One pitch into the at-bat, Spider head coach Ron Atkins collaborated with his team, allowing Padgett to talk his at-bat over with Hughes.

"Coach was just like, 'Try to drive the ball up the middle and get something up the middle hard,'" Padgett said. "He hung a slider and I tried to hit the ball up the middle, but I turned on it."

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