Hokies Down UVa in Baseball

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April 15, 1998

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech rode the pitching of freshman Pat Pinkmanand a five-run fifth inning to a 10-5 baseball victory over the University ofVirginia at English Field on Wednesday.

Pinkman (4-1) allowed just six hits, struck out 10 and walked only two on the wayto the complete-game victory. He retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced and satthe Cavaliers down in order in six of the nine innings he pitched.

All of Virginia’s hits came in the second and fifth innings. A two-run homer bycatcher Josh Bowling, a double by shortstop Tim LaVigne and an RBI-single bydesignated hitter Mark Rueffert gave the Cavs a 3-1 lead in the second. After Techtook a 5-3 lead, UVa used three more hits and a Tech error to score twice in thefifth to tie the game. But third baseman Brian Sherlock’s run-scoring single with twoouts in that inning proved to be Virginia’s last hit. The Cavaliers’ only base-runnerover the last four innings reached in the eighth on a walk.

The Hokies (20-15-2) broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth when theirfirst five batters reached base and scored. A double by catcher Barry Gauch platedthe first two runs and a single by Matt Griswold drove in Gauch with the third run.After a single by designated hitter Nick Perlozzo and a sacrifice by first basemanRyan Brittle, Griswold scored the fourth run on a wild pitch by UVa pitcher JavierLopez. Second baseman Christian Simmers’ sacrifice squeeze bunt brought home Perlozzowith the final run.

Griswold led Tech’s 14-hit attack with a 4-for-5 day that included one RBI andtwo runs scored. Gauch was 3-for-4 in the game with three RBIs and a run scored. TheHokies also got two hits from left fielder Eric Shiflett and a solo home run fromjunior third baseman Jason Babcock, who was making his first start of the season.

Rueffert was the only player with two hits for Virginia, which now stands 21-17-1on the season. Lopez (4-3), who started and pitched 4 1/3 innings, was the losingpitcher.

Tech is scheduled to face Marshall University in Blacksburg on Thursday at 3 p.m.

UVa 030 020 000 -  5  6 2VT  113 050 000 - 10 14 1

Lopez, Nuckols (5), Chapman (7) and Bowling. Pinkman and Gauch. W- Pinkman (4-1) L- Lopez (4-3) HRs- Bowling (V) 2nd, one on; Babcock (VT) 2nd, none on.