No. 11 Hokies’ nine-game winning streak snapped against Boston College

By Raza Umerani

Staff Writer

March 11, 2023

BLACKSBURG - No. 11 Virginia Tech suffered its first defeat in ten games in the first match of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against Boston College.

In a vintage pitching duel between each team’s ace, very little separated the Hokies (12-3, 1-1) and Eagles (11-2, 1-1) through the first eight innings. A flurry of errors from both defenses allowed three unearned runs to score in the first two innings as BC took a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the third, a leadoff single by right fielder Travis Honeyman and a walk from first baseman Joe Vetrano set up a game-breaking three-run home run by left fielder Cameron Leary. With a four-run lead, BC starter Chris Flynn and the Eagles pitching staff were able to hold things down for the majority of the game.

Flynn, who entered the game with a spotless ERA and perfect 3-0 record, kept the Hokies off the scoreboard for four consecutive innings, but gave up his first two earned runs of the season in the bottom of the sixth. A run scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single by shortstop David Bryant got Virginia Tech back in the ballgame.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hokies plated two more runs against BC relief pitcher Henry Leake on an RBI groundout by center fielder Jack Hurley and an RBI single by first baseman Eddie Eisert. After being in a deep hole for most of the game, Virginia Tech found themselves down just one run.

After a rough start to the game, including the third inning homer, Hokies starter Drue

Hackenberg was practically infallible, retiring 12-of-13 batters faced before being replaced by star reliever Brady Kirtner in the bottom of the seventh. Kirtner was only able to record one out while walking two batters to load the bases, but freshman Andrew Sentlinger stranded them all with a massive strikeout to keep the Hokies alive entering the final two innings.

With two runners on base and just one out in the top of the eighth, the Hokies turned to reliever Tyler Dean to right the ship. The sophomore recorded back to back imperative outs, including an impressive strikeout to retire the side and set up the Virginia Tech offense with a golden opportunity to take the lead. However, that opportunity was squandered as the Hokies batters went down in order thanks to the efforts of Boston College senior reliever Andrew Roman.

In the top half of the final frame, the Hokies turned back to Tyler Dean to lock things down. Boston College’s star Travis Honeyman had other ideas. He led off the inning with a single, then stole second base before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. After fanning one Eagle, Dean walked two consecutive batters to load the bases and subsequently gave up a backbreaking two-out two-strike two-run single to shortstop Vince Cimini to all but ice the game for BC. 

With a commanding three-run lead, Andrew Roman recorded his final three outs with ease to give Boston College a hard-fought and well-earned 8-5 win.

Saturday’s frigid temperatures had a noticeable impact on the game itself. Several Hokie hitters had deep fly balls fall flat on the warning track, and the bats were never able to reach their usual blazing hot status. Although they were able to outhit Boston College, it was the Eagles who secured more key hits throughout the game to emerge victorious. There should be no reservations about the potential production of the Virginia Tech lineup; today was just simply not its day.

After a game in Johnson City against East Tennessee State on Tuesday, Virginia Tech returns to conference play on Friday in Coral Gables against Miami.