BASEBALL: Rams dominated by Hokies

Virginia Tech jumped to an early lead and
never looked back Wednesday night at English
Field as the Hokies defeated VCU 9-1, snapping
the Rams’ two-game winning streak.

Four Tech pitchers combined to give up
just eight hits, striking out seven and not
allowing a walk.

“We didn’t give the offense any free base
runners,” Tech head coach Pete Hughes said.
“Walks score runs. It was a good lesson for
our guys tonight. If you throw strikes, you’ll
have success.”

After VCU starting pitcher Michael Graham
(Fairfax Station/South County Secondary) got
the first two outs of the first inning, catcher
Anthony Sosnoskie drew a walk. Then, right
fielder Klint Reed doubled to score Sosnoskie.
Reed advanced one base after a fielding error
by VCU catcher Eric Curtis (Chesterfield/Matoaca).

Another hit – this time an RBI-single by
second baseman Austin Wates – and another
error by the Rams put the Hokies in scoring
position again. Designated hitter Jose Cueto
took advantage, singling to right center to
score Wates and put Tech up 3-0.

Graham only lasted one inning, giving way to
Darryl Stringfield (Wakefield/Sussex Central)
in the bottom of the second.

The right hander surrendered a single
in that inning, as Sean Ryan hit one between the shortstop and third
baseman and into left field. Left fielder Steve Bumbry raced home from
second to push the Tech lead to four.

Neither starting pitcher lasted long. After Virginia Tech pitcher Justin
Wright retired the first seven batters, he gave up a double, and then gave
way to fellow freshman Jesse Hahn.

VCU head coach Paul Keyes saw his Rams claim their lone run in the
top half of the fifth.

Left fielder Michael Cheatham (Chesterfield/Matoaca) led off with a hit
to center. After a groundout moved him to second and an infield single
put runners on the corners, Curtis flied out to short right field.

The second out of the inning wasn’t deep enough for Cheatham to tag
up and try to score. But shortstop Joe Van Meter (Long Island, N.Y./St.
Dominic) followed an RBI single to center field.

VCU had an opportunity for more runs. Another infield single – this
time by lead-off hitter Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) – loaded the bases.
Second baseman Richard Gonzalez (Puerto Rico/PRBA) laced a line drive,
but it went straight to third baseman Michael Seaborn and ended the
threat.

Tech extended their lead in the fifth. With O’Brien perched on second,
Sosnoskie lifted a fly ball that carried over the 330-foot sign in left field.

“It was a hanging slider,” Sosnoskie said. “I thought it was gone, but
I didn’t think it was out real far. I got a little under it.”

His fourth home run of the season gave the Hokies a 6-1 cushion.

In the next inning, with one out and two Tech runners on base, shortstop
Tony Balisteri – the ninth batter in the lineup – nearly went for a home
run off new Rams pitcher Will Hirsch (Virginia Beach/Nansemond River).
Nevertheless, the ball hit the wall and the freshman ended up on second
with a run-scoring double.

The Hokies added some insurance in the eight with two runs and a
pair of VCU errors. Reliever Rob Waskiewicz came in to finish the deal
in the ninth, preserving the Tech victory.

—
By the numbers

VCU (7-20) 000 010 000 1 8 4

VT (13-20) 310 021 02x 9 10 1

Graham, Stringfield (2), Hirsch (6),
Askey (8) and Curtis; Wright, Hahn
(3), McDermott (6), Waskiewicz
(8) and Sosnoskie, Kay (7). W:
Waskiewicz (3-1). L: Graham (0-3).
HR: Sosnoskie (4).