Tech takes two from Maryland

(Note: As is often the case in college baseball, players switch between positions from game to game, so they're tagged with what position they played in that particular game).

Outside of the 14-inning loss to N.C. State, this was the most frustrating game of the 12-game span as the Hokies blew a lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.

After Friday night's game was rained out, the Tech and Maryland played two on Saturday. In game one, Maryland jumped out early on the Hokies as Kevin Martir's two-run single highlighted a three-run first inning. The Terps tacked on two more in the bottom of the second inning and Tech got on the board in the third with an RBI-double by Alex Perez (SS) and an RBI-single from Sean Keselica (1b).

Maryland added another run in the bottom of the third inning, but both teams remained scoreless until the Tech struck for five runs in the sixth inning. Chad Morgan (c) singled to bring in Andrew Rash (cf) and Tyler Horan (lf). Chad Pinder (3b) hit a bases-loaded double that rought in Keselica, Perez and Morgan and put Tech up 7-6.

Brendon Hayden (2b) singled in Horan in the seventh inning to give Tech an 8-6 lead, which was erased by a two-run homer from Anthony Papio in the bottom half of the inning.Tech regained the lead in the top of the eighth as Tyler Horan grounded out with the bases loaded to plate Keselica. Maryland got out of the bases-loaded situation with only the one-run of damage done.

Head to the bottom of the ninth and Tech pitcher Clark Labitan issued a lead-off walk and a single put two on with no outs. Martir laid down a bunt on the first pitch he saw, and a throwing error by Labitan loaded the bases with no outs. Papio singled on the second pitch of his at-bat to bring in the tying and game-winning runs.

Brad Markey started for the Hokies and pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits. Labitan was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs on two hits in 1/3 of an inning.
Mooney earned the win in relief, pitching 1 2/3 innings of no-hit ball. Maryland starter Jimmy Reed gave up seven runs and 12 hits in 6 innings.

WP: Kevin Mooney (3-1) -- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
LP: Clark Labitan (0-4, hey maybe we should stop putting him in?) -- 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Top Hokie Performers
Gary Schneider -- 4/4, 2B
Tyler Horan -- 3/5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Chad Pinder -- 1/4, 2B, 3 RBI
Alex Perez -- 3/5, 2B, 2 R, RBI

After an ugly opening game of the doubleheader for the Hokies, game two was much, much better. Tech starting pitcher Joe Mantiply went seven strong innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits.

Rash (rf) hit an RBI-single in the first inning and an RBI-double in the third inning to start the scoring. The Hokies added one more in the third on a sacrifice fly from Hayden (2b). Tech added four more in the fourth inning as Horan (lf) hit an RBI-single and Mark Zagunis (c) smacked a three-run homer to put Tech up 7-0.

Hayden hit a solo homer in the fifth and added an RBI-double in the seventh inning. Gary Schneider (cf) added an RBI-double and Keselica (1b) capped the scoring with an RBI-single.

The Hokies pounded out 16 hits over the course of the game and chases Maryland starter Brady Kirkpatrick after 3 2/3 innings.

Mantiply earned the win and Sean Kennedy pitched two innings of no-hit ball to close out the game.

WP: Joe Mantiply (3-0) -- 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
LP: Brady Kirkpatrick (3-6) -- 3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Top Hokie Performers
Sean Keselica -- 3/5, 2R, RBI
Mark Zagunis -- 1/3, HR, 2R, 3 RBI, BB
Andrew Rash -- 3/5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI
Brendon Hayden -- 2/4, 2B, HR, 2R, 3 RBI

Maryland threatened first in the rubber game of the series, but Jose Cuas grounded out with runners on second and third to close the inning. After two quick outs in the top of the fourth inning, Zagunis (c) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rash (dh) doubled to bring him in.

In the fifth inning, Perez (ss) singled and then scored on a double by Keselica (1b) with two outs. Pinder (3b) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, but Tech couldn't tack on more runs.

The Terps tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning as back-to-back triples scored one run and a sacrifice fly tied the game. In the seventh, Perez (ss) singled and Schneider (rf) walked to put two on. After a fly-out by Keselica, Pinder singled to bring Perez around from second for the winning run.

Tech starter Devin Burke escaped a first-and-third situation in the bottom of the seventh and retired the last six batters in order for the Hokies. Burke struck out two and scattered five hits over nine innings for the win.

WP: Devin Burke (6-3) -- 9 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 B, 2 K
LP: Jake Stinnett (4-4) -- 7 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Top Hokie Performers
Gary Schneider -- 2/3, 2B, BB
Alex Perez -- 2/4, 2 R,
Sean Keselica -- 1/5, 2B, RBI

Now, for the recaps of the other games (and yes, I used memes. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?)

Game	Appropriate image
No. 25 N.C. State 8, No. 22 Virginia Tech 7 (14 innings) Really frustrating loss and a game that Tech could have won.
No. 25 N.C. State 13, No. 22 Virginia Tech 4 It's almost like two different teams showed up for game two.
No. 25 N.C. State 7, No. 22 Virginia Tech 3 Look at that cat. I mean LOOK AT IT.
Virginia Tech 7, Longwood 5 (10 inn.) Really, extras against Longwood?
No. 1 North Carolina 21, Virginia Tech 8 I had to just laugh at this one
No. 1 North Carolina 9, Virginia Tech 8 Would have been a huge win for the weekend, but nope.
No. 1 North Carolina 3, Virginia Tech 0 Just had to accept the series sweep at this point.
Tennessee 5, Virginia Tech 4 34-17, you jerks.