Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – With junior infielder Jared Davis leading a stack of six multi-hit performances on Monday afternoon, the Virginia Tech baseball team muscled its way past UNCG, 8-3, to clinch the three-game series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
From the leadoff spot, Davis paced Virginia Tech (5-2) with four hits, opening the game with a first-swing double down the left field line and adding RBI singles during the fourth and sixth innings. Including Davis, each of the Hokies’ six multi-hit producers – consisting of Treyson Hughes (2-for-5), David Lewis (2-for-4), Garrett Michel (2-for-3), Jackson Cherry (2-for-2) and Clay Grady (2-for-3) – stroked an extra-base hit.
Freshman right-hand starter Logan Eisenreich raised his rookie season strikeouts high to eight while toeing four and two-thirds innings for the Hokies. Eisenriech let a pair of leadoff walks during the top of the second inning turn into two runs for UNCG (4-3), but effectively held the Spartans to three hits – all singles – through the duration of his outing.
Hughes kickstarted Virginia Tech’s three-run second inning that flipped the score back in the Hokies’ favor at 4-2.
Leading off against UNCG starter Grant Aycock, Hughes drove a 1-1 pitch into the right center alley, turning on the jets for his first triple of the season (first in a Virginia Tech uniform). Lewis proceeded to bat in Hughes with a well-placed RBI single hit deep into the hole on the left side of the infield, brushed down by shortstop Jacob Budzik.
Michel furthered the damage by swinging an opposite-way double over the head of left fielder Luke Jenkins, putting two Virginia Tech runners in scoring position with an out yet to be recorded. Stepping in as the Hokies’ designated hitter, Cherry matched Michel with another opposite-way double hit to left field, clearing the bases while shooting the home team out to its final lead.
Virginia Tech extended its lead to 5-2 during the fourth inning as seeing-eye hits by Cherry and Grady were cashed in by Davis, who dropped his first of two run-scoring hits into left field. David McCann’s led off the Hokies’ two-run fifth inning with a solo home run, having it manifest by a two-out rally put in play by Lewis (double) and Michel (RBI single).
Grant Manning retired the first eight batters he faced in relief, posting five strikeouts through three innings of work while allowing a run on three hits and a walk.
Virginia Tech ultimately needed two calls to the bullpen to put away UNCG during the ninth inning, despite the Hokies’ 6-4-3 double play. Luke Craytor etched his second save of the season, striking out Parker Wright – the lone batter he faced – with the bases loaded and one run already in by the Spartans.