Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Relying on sophomore catcher David McCann’s two doubles and junior shortstop Clay Grady’s three RBIs, the Virginia Tech baseball team navigated safely through a tricky midweek affair against ETSU, rallying from 6-5 down during the sixth inning to earn the 8-6 victory at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
McCann cracked his fourth and fifth doubles of the season to lead Virginia Tech (3-1), stroking the latter to open the bottom of the seventh inning with the game tied at 6-6. After Garrett Michel had drawn a four-pitch walk behind him, McCann turned into the Hokies’ eventual winning run, taking two free bases as ETSU catcher JD Yakubinis allowed two passed balls to scoot by him during Sam Tackett’s plate appearance.
Grady played a key role in willing Virginia Tech back into contention early, answering the Buccaneers’ three-run first inning by delivering a two-out, two-RBI double during the bottom of the second inning. Walks issued during the third inning to David Lewis and McCann left the Hokies lying a pair of two-out base runners, prompting the home side to rally for three runs courtesy of RBI singles by Michel, Tackett and Cam Pittman.
ETSU (3-1) knotted the game at 5-5 during the top of the fourth inning as Grant Gallagher and Axel Melendez provided back-to-back solo home runs from the eighth and ninth spots in the Buccaneers’ batting order. Melendez finished 4-for-5 to lead the visitors – one of four multi-hit performances by ETSU batters.
Cooper Torres put the Buccaneers ahead, 6-5, upon leading off the fifth inning with a solo home run, though Virginia Tech would answer by the sixth inning. There, Pittman drew a leadoff walk against Brady Frederick and took two more bases when Frederick’s pickoff throw bounced errantly up the first base line, scoring on Grady’s lazy sacrifice fly to right field.
Right-hand relievers Preston Crowl and junior Luke Craytor combined to stamp four scoreless innings on the mound for the Hokies, uniting for five strikeouts. Crowl earned his first winning decision of the young season while Craytor secured his first save in Virginia Tech pinstripes.