Game in Blacksburg - On Friday, March 29th, the VT Hokies took down #4 Florida State Seminoles 3-2 on a complete game pitching performance by Junior Brad Markey and a pesky offense. The Seminoles scattered 11 hits off of Markey, but could not seem to get the bats going with men in scoring position. The only damage that the Seminoles could muster was a two run shot over the right field wall for Senior DJ Stewart. The Hokies scrapped together 3 runs on 6 hits, getting RBIs from Schneider, Zagunis, and Keselica. The Hokies turned 4 double plays during the game, most notably the game ending unassisted double play by 3B Chad Pinder. With a runner on third with one out, Pinder snared a liner over his head and instinctively dove to the bag to turn the upsetting double play. Markey, and the Hokies, received a standing ovation from the crowd as they left the field.
Double Header - The first of two games on Saturday, March 30th, started off with a huge lead by the Seminoles. Starter Junior Devin Burke (Hokies) struggled to stay consistent with the strike zone early on and this led to his defense playing on their heels. After a pair of walks, all with two outs, the Seminoles brought 12 men to the plate to stroke some singles after the Hokies failed to turn inning ending double plays, twice. An error in center field on a line drive soon led to a 5-0 lead after a half inning of play. After the Hokies were sat down 1-2-3 by Seminole starter Sitz, the Seminoles went on to score 3 more runs on a double and a pair of singles with a sac fly to take a strong 8-0 lead. A disappointed Hokie crowd started some noise when Brandon Hayden drove in a run in the bottom of the second inning, but the threat ended immediately after. After a 1-2-3 inning by Sitz, the Hokies seemed to have their backs against the wall until the fourth inning. With a surging 6 hits and 3 errors, the Hokies offense put up a game tying 7 runs all with 2 outs in the inning. As the game advanced, the Seminoles took an 11-8 lead with a bases loaded walk, RBI single by Senior McGee, and a wild pitch. The Hokies threatened in the seventh with a lead off triple by Zagunis and later on scored on a Rash ground out, but the game moved on to the 9th. After a fantastic relief effort from Keselica, the game moved to the bottom of the 9th. The Hokies held second and third with a Zagunis walk and a Rash double with one out in the inning against closer R. Coles. Hayden singled in Zagunis but Rash was held up at third. Down by one, the Hokies had two outs to work with to get the runner in from third but Wernicki struck out followed by a Perez ground out to lose the game, 11-10.
The second game of the day featured Joe Mantiply making his second ACC start of the year, after sitting out the beginning of the season injured. Mantiply pitched a solid 6.2 innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 earned run. The Hokies jumped out in from of the Seminoles 4-0 in the fourth With a key 2 out 2 RBI double from Rash. later on in the game the Hokies scored four more, again led by an RBI single from Rash. Rash's 2-3 effort on the day led him to game MVP and solid relief pitching from Clarke Latiban cruised the Hokies to an 8-1 win. The save was Clarke's fifth of the year. The Hokies upset the Seminoles with a 2 out of 3 series win.
The now ranked #22 Hokies will face VCU on Tuesday at English Field here in Blacksburg Va. Stay tuned for tomorrow's scouting report.
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