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BLACKSBURG, VA (May 5) – Virginia Tech completed a
three-game sweep of the University of Connecticut baseball team and
jumped to the top of the BIG EAST standings on Sunday, downing the
Huskies 12-4 at English Field.
The Hokies improved to 26-21-0 overall and 14-6-0
in the BIG EAST. UConn dropped to sixth in the conference with a
12-10-0 mark and stand 26-20-0 overall.
Freshman Nick Tucci (Medford, MA) got the starting
nod for the Huskies and didn’t allow a hit until the third inning.
Virginia Tech struck for four runs in the frame on four hits, all RBI
singles. The Hokies added single runs in both the fourth and fifth,
knocking Tucci out of the game after 4.1 innings of work. The rookie
right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out six and
walking three.
UConn narrowed the gap with four runs in the sixth
to make it 6-4. Senior Cy Hess (Oakdale, CT) started the frame with a
leadoff home run, his team-leading 10th of the season. After an error
gave Connecticut runners on the corners with no outs, back-to-back
singles by Mike Leonard (Vernon, CT) and Mike Mocerino (Northboro, MA)
plated two more runs. A walk to junior Tyler Stefkovich (Westport, CT)
loaded the bases with no outs, though junior Dan Trubia (Tolland, CT)
grounded into a double play to bring home another run and freshman
Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, MA) struck out to end the threat.
Virginia Tech struck back with three runs in the
bottom of the sixth to make it 9-4 and added another three in the
eighth to seal the win. Starter Chip Runton worked six innings and
allowed only two earned runs on eight hits while striking out eight.
Pat Pinkman came in for the final three innings and gave up only two
hits to pick up his second save of the season.
Five batters–Hess, junior Brett Burnham (South
Windsor, CT), Leonard, Mocerino and Trubia–each had two hits on the
day, accounting for UConn’s 10 hits. Virginia Tech’s Wyatt Toregas
went 3-for-4 on the day with three RBI and scored two runs. Both teams
stranded seven runners in the game.
Connecticut will look to rebound against Brown in a doubleheader on
Tuesday, May 7. The games, UConn’s last home contests of the season,
will begin at 2 p.m.
Win: Runyon (5-6).
Loss: Tucci (4-3).
Save: Pinkman (2).
E: VT West, Winterfeldt, Pinkman.
DP: VT 2.
LOB: UC 7; VT 7.
2B: UC Leonard; VT Stanton, Toregan, Bauder 2.
HR: UC Hess.
HBP: VT Toregas, Bauder, Harris.
SF: VT Stanton.
SB: UC Mocerino 2.
CS: VT Harris.
Batteries: UC Nick Tucci (4.1), Erik Drown (1.1), Mike James (2.1) and
Mike Leonard; VT Chip Runton (6), Pat Pinkman (3) and Jed English.
