The Virginia Tech baseball team wrapped up a weekend series with Boston College with a win, but dropped the opening two games. On the season, Virginia Tech is 1-8 in the ACC and 14-12 overall. The Hokies have lost six of the eight ACC games by a total of 7 runs and it's strange to think that this team is so close to being 7-2 in the ACC. In fact, all four out-of-conference losses have come by a total of 6 runs and three of the four were one-run games.
Game 1, Friday--BC 5, VT 3
Joe Mantiply took the mound for the Hokies on Friday and gave up a two-run home run in the first inning to Boston College 3B Anthony Melchionda. Mantiply had walked Andrew Lawrence before giving up the homer to Melchionda. Melchionda singled in the third inning, bringing in Tom Bourdon.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Eagles would get the eventual game winning runs after Lawrence and Melchionda singled to start the inning. Matt Watson singled to bring in Lawrence and end the day for Mantiply. Garrett Smith's RBI fielder's choice brought Melchionda in for a 5-0 BC lead.
The Hokies got on the board finally in the 9th inning as Andrew Rash singled to bring in Ronnie Shaban, Tim Smalling scored on a RBI fielder's choice from Tyler Horan, and Zac MacAneney (pinch-running for Rash) scored on a single by Chad Morgan. The Hokies rally attempt fell short though as Jake Atwell flied out to left with runners on first and third.
Mantiply (2-4) was hit with all 5 BC earned runs and gave up all 11 hits. The Hokies were hit-less through 6.1 innings until Smalling singled in the 7th.
Follow the jump for the remaining two games.
Game 2, Saturday--BC 2, VT 1
The Hokies scored their only run of the game in the first inning as Tony Balisteri walked to start the game, stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Smalling's sacrifice fly to left field brought Balisteri in and gave the Hokies an early lead.
Brad Zapenas and Lawrence singled in the 5th for the Eagles and a walk to Watson loaded the bases for Marc Perdios. Perdios singled to bring in Zapenas and Lawrence and Watson was thrown out at third to end the inning.
The Hokies only had two hits all game and the walk to Balisteri was the only other time the Hokies were on base. Marc Zecchino (2-3) was hit with the loss after surrendering two runs on 6 hits in 6.0 IP.
Game 3, Sunday--VT 8, BC 1
The Hokies' bats finally heated up on Sunday as they got 8 runs off of 9 hits. Balisteri singled to start the game and a double by Shaban brought him in for a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd inning, Balisteri reached on an error and later stole second. Shaban tripled to bring him in and a double by Smalling scored Shaban. Matt Blow singled to bring in Smalling for a 4-0 lead. All three of the runs in the 3rd inning came with two outs.
The lone BC run came in the 4th inning as a single by Watson brought Perdios in from second. In the 5th, Michael Seaborn singled and stole second before scoring off a RBI-double in by Shaban. Balisteri and Shaban both walked in the 7th and an error by the centerfielder brought them both home for a 7-1 VT lead. Balisteri singled and stole second in the top of the 9th and Shaban singled to bring Balisteri home.
Balisteri was 2 for 4 with a walk, 3 stolen bases, and 4 runs scored on the day. Shaban was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with an intentional walk, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. With a single, two doubles and a triple, Shaban was a homerun shy of the cycle. As if that wasn't enough, Shaban pitched the 9th inning for the Hokies and gave up 0 hits and struck out one.
Joe Parsons quietly picked up his 4th win (4-1) by allowing only 1 run on 3 hits.
Up next: The Hokies play Radford at home on Tuesday before preparing for a big weekend home series against Virginia.