Hokies win fourth straight behind stellar hitting
Joey Robertson
March 1, 2020
Virginia Tech's Tanner Thomas connects with a pitch in the snow at English Field at Union Park against Bryant. Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics
BLACKSBURG, VA. – Virginia Tech earned its fifth win of the season Friday afternoon in the series opener against Bryant University, defeating the Bulldogs 15-4.
Bryant struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring one run.
However, Tech answered in the bottom of the first, using a Kevin Madden two run home run, a Gavin Cross RBI single, and a Carson Taylor RBI triple to score four runs. Madden sent a 1-1 fastball over the left field wall for a two-run home run, his second of the season. He also finished with three RBIs.
“We really needed that first inning,” head coach John Szefc said. “It’s always good to give your starting pitcher some runs to work with. You’ve got to give them credit, they went out and scored off Gerard in the first inning and he really hasn’t given up any runs at all this year.
As the snow flurried from inning to inning, the Hokies kept the bats scorching hot. Carson Taylor hit 4-6, Gavin Cross hit 3-6, Kevin Madden hit 3-4 and Fritz Genther hit 3-4.
“Despite the weather, we came out here and played hard, everybody contributed today,” Virginia Tech third basemen Kevin Madden said. “It was good to score and get a bunch of hits.”
The Hokies had some astounding numbers on Friday, reaching season-highs in almost every offensive category.
Tech scored fifteen runs on sixteen hits, with five of those hits going for extra bases. They also posted twelve RBIs, seven walks and five stolen bases – all season highs.
Virginia Tech’s starting pitcher Chris Gerard won his first game of the season after pitching five innings and striking out six Bulldog batters.
The Hokies bullpen then came in and shut down the Bulldogs with solid outings from Henry Weycker, Nathan Starliper, and Peter Sakellaris. The trio combined to only allowed one unearned run during their outings.
Virginia Tech improves to 5-3 on the season while Bryant falls to 2-6. The two teams will face off for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 1, with the first pitch set for 11 a.m.