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April 16, 2003
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Hokies’ freshman righthanded pitcher M.J. Hurley pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball and relievers Nicky Bowers and Matt Dalton each tossed one scoreless inning to lead Virginia Tech to a 5-3 non-conference victory over Virginia Wednesday afternoon at VT’s English Field. Virginia Tech took an early 3-0 lead before UVa rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the third inning. However, the Hokies scored the eventual game-winning run in the sixth inning and held on for the two-run victory.
The win improved the Hokies to 24-9 overall, while the Cavaliers fall to 22-13 on the season. Virginia’s loss to VT was UVa’s first loss this season to an opponent that was not ranked. Tech has now won 11 of its last 12 games and 18 of its last 21 games.
Hurley, making his first appearance since March 26 and his longest stint of the year, retired the final 14 batters he faced in the game. He allowed UVa four hits (all singles), three runs, walking two and struck out five hitters. Bowers pitched the eighth inning and Dalton picked up his 11th save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Tech opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as senior second baseman Marc Tugwell homered to left to drive in sophomore rightfielder Matt Kalish who had walked with one out. With two out in the inning, senior shortstop Spencer Harris doubled and scored the third run of the inning on a single by senior centerfielder Brad Bauder.
Virginia scored twice in the top of the second inning on a groundout by catcher Scott Headd, scoring third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The next batter, second baseman Kyle Werman singled in centerfielder Chris Sweet, for UVa’s second run. In the top of the third inning, leftfielder Matt Dunn walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Zimmerman to tie the game at 3-3 through three..
The Hokies regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as sophomore catcher Wyatt Toregas, who had walked to lead off the inning, scored on a groundout to short by sophomore designated hitter David McDonald. Toregas’ run became the eventual game-winner. Tech added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Harris reached on a bunt single, stole second base and scored on a double by McDonald.
Harris led the Hokies with three hits and Tugwell and sophomore third baseman Chris Stanton added two hits each. McDonald and Tugwell each drove in a pair of runs for Tech. Zimmerman, Werman, Sweet and first baseman Joe Koshansky had the hits for Virginia.
Hurley is now 2-1 on the season for Tech. Virginia’s starter, freshman righthander Matt Avery took the loss. He is now 1-3 on the season.
Virginia will return to action on April 18-20 when UVa host the #14 ranked N.C. State Wolfpack in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series. UVa will face NCSU on Friday, April 18th at 7:00 PM, Saturday, April 19th at 1:00 PM and Sunday, April 20th at 1:00 PM. All three games will be played at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
The Hokies return to action on Thursday, as they travel to Morgantown to play West Virginia in a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader, starting a 3:00 PM before travel to Connecticut on Saturday for a league doubleheader, beginning at noon.
— UVa —