March 15, 2007
Final Stats
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech spotted Marist seven runs over the first two innings then roared back to post a 14-8 victory over the Red Foxes at English Field on Wednesday.
Tech improved its season record to 12-6 by scoring in five of its last six innings. The Hokies finally took the lead with a three-run sixth that featured a solo home run by center fielder Nate Parks and a two-run blast by right fielder Jose Cueto that powered Tech to a 9-8 advantage. The Hokies went on to pull away with five additional runs in the eighth inning.
Marist (1-10) sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs on six hits against Tech freshman pitcher Rob Whitley. An RBI-double by designated hitter Justin Lepore (Madison, Conn.) got the Red Foxes started. Right fielder Kyle LaHonta (Walnut Creek, Ca.) added a two-run single during the inning. Left fielder Max Most (Port Washington, N.Y.) also drove in a run with a single, while catcher Keith Glasser (Rensselaer, N.Y.) picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice.
The Red Foxes added to their lead in the second inning against freshman reliever Brett Fox. First baseman Kenny Anderson (Randolph, N.J.) contributed a run-scoring single in the inning and Most picked up another RBI with a groundout.
Tech got on the board in the bottom of the third. A lead-off double by freshman left fielder Steve Bumbry opened the inning. After Bumbry moved to third on a balk, designated hitter Sean O'Brien lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.
An inning later, shortstop Warren Schaeffer smacked a run-scoring double and O'Brien added an RBI-single as the Hokies scored three runs. Tech trimmed the lead to 8-6 with two more runs in the fifth on a pinch-hit double by Luke Padgett.
Back-to-back two-run singles by second baseman Matt Hacker and pinch hitter Anthony Sosnoskie fueled Tech's big eighth inning. The Hokies finished the game with 14 hits, including three by Cueto who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and four runs scored.
Marist ended up with 15 hits on the day, but only four came after the fourth inning. Center fielder Travis Musolf (Manchester, N.J.) paced the Red Foxes with a three-hit game.
A combined total of 14 pitchers saw action during the game, including eight for Tech. Adam Redd, who started the game at first base, took the mound in the fifth inning and ended up with the victory. Redd (2-0) worked 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, but no runs. Jacob Wiley (0-1, Cape Vincent, N.Y.), the second of six Marist pitchers, took the loss.
Marist will head to George Washington this weekend for a three-game series that will begin Friday at 3 p.m.
