:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49654345/hud_16BS_nd3_DK_4184.0.0.jpg)
Well, it was almost there. Friday afternoon, the Hokies Baseball Team almost grabbed one. Tech led the game into the late innings and it was tied in the bottom of the 9th, but the now 8th ranked Cavaliers were just too much to hold off. Tech loses Game 2 of the final series in a Virginia walk-off; 6-7.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Virginia Cavaliers - Game 2:
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Virginia Tech (19-35, 6-23) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
|
(9) Virginia (35-18, 18-11) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
13 |
0 |
W: Doyle, T. (2-5) L: Cole Kragel (2-4)
Tech's pitcher Packy Naughton started, and held the Wahoos to a mere two runs by the top of the 8th and led by one run. Nick Anderson and Sam Fragale each got a solo homer off of Virginia's reliever to put the Hokies up by a more comfortable 3 runs. That comfort didn't last, though. Packy was replaced by Chris Monaco to start off the bottom of the 8th where he gave up a bunt single, a two run homer, another single, and then a ground rule double that put the tying run in easy scoring position. Cole Kragel was sent in to rescue the lead but all that was needed was a sacrifice fly and the Hoos were tied. Cole Kragel by the sometimes unjust oddities in baseball statistics gets the "credit" for the loss. (Some credit!)
The Hokies didn't give up the ghost just yet, though. They tied it back up in the top of the 9th with Rahiem Cooper hitting a double to lead off, and after a couple of strike outs, was brought home by another double, this time hit by Tom Stoffel. Any hope of a go ahead grounded out to third base. Kragel was faced with holding a tie in the bottom of the 9th against the 8th ranked team in NCAA baseball. The Hoos came out firing in the bottom of the 9th. They managed a single, a stolen base, a walk, and then a fielding error that killed a double play opportunity loaded the bases. A tired Kragel walked home the winning run; which given the struggles of the season was par for the course.
Hokies Box score for Friday May 20th:
|
|
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
PO |
A |
LOB |
|
Saige Jenco CF |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan Tufts SS |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
Tom Stoffel LF |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Logan Bible PR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mac Caples LF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Phil Sciretta 1B |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
|
Nick Anderson DH |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sam Fragale 3B |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Joe Freiday, Jr. C |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Matt Dauby 2B |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
|
Rahiem Cooper RF |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Packy Naughton P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Chris Monaco P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cole Kragel P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan Lauria P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Totals |
33 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
25 |
9 |
7 |
Doubles: Stoffel, Fragale, Cooper
Home Runs: Anderson, Fragale
RBI: Stoffel, Anderson (2), Fragale (3)
Clutch RBI: Stoffel
Stolen Base: Jenco
Errors: Tufts, Fragale, Dauby
Men Left on Base: 7
The final game on Saturday just never really got started for the Hokies. Virginia jumped out to a three run lead; Jon Woodcock settled in and otherwise pitched a decent enough game to win if Tech had generated any offense. Saturday the bats were quiet against a very good Virginia pitcher, and Tech managed only two hits; that pretty much sealed the loss.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Virginia Cavaliers - Game 3:
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
||
|
Virginia Tech (19-36, 6-24) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
(9) Virginia (36-18, 19-11) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
X |
4 |
6 |
1 |
W: Haseley, A. (8-3) L: Jon Woodcock (1-8)
Hokies Box Score for the last game of the 2016 Season:
|
|
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
PO |
A |
LOB |
|
Saige Jenco CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan Tufts SS |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Tom Stoffel LF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Phil Sciretta 1B |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Nick Anderson DH |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sam Fragale 3B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Andrew Mogg C |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Matt Dauby 2B |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Garrett Hudson 2B |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Logan Bible RF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jon Woodcock P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Paul Hall, Jr. P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan Lauria P |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Totals |
27 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
24 |
4 |
1 |
RBI: Sciretta
So, that's a wrap. The 2016 Baseball Season is in the books, and the high hopes of February and March have pretty much been left back there in the late Winter, early Spring. There were lots of good things, but lots more disappointments happened. I am sure that there will be some serious reviews of the season, a few ‘ataboys' handed out for the players who really left everything on the field, especially the seniors who are graduating from the program and moving on.
The Final W's and L's of the 2016 Season:
Overall: 19-36 ACC: 6-24
Home: 13-15 Away: 5-19 Neutral: 1-2
Change is a part of all sports in college. Careers are short, and the draw to other levels of competition is fierce. The offseason will be a time of change and adjustment. We'll see how those shake out.
A final report on the Baseball program will be forthcoming as events dictate.