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Davidson College
Virginia Tech
Squeeze Play Lifts Virginia Tech Over Davidson
4/8/2008 8:13:03 PM | Baseball
Marc Gignac
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech pinch runner Travis Willson scored on a suicide squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Hokies to a 5-4 baseball victory over visiting Davidson at English Field Tuesday evening.
Pinch hitter Steve Bumbry laid down the bunt on an 0-1 count with the runners on first and third and one out. Michael Seaborn ignited the rally with a single, and Matt Blow's single got runners on the corners.
Hugh Eden and Brett Shore each went 2-for-4 to lead Davidson (8-19) as eight Wildcats recorded base hits in the game. Seaborn and Klint Reed each had two hits to lead the Hokies (12-20).
After Zach Kayne singled home Eden to give Davidson a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Virginia Tech answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame and added runs in the second and third to open a 4-1 cushion.
Consecutive singles by Chris FitzPatrick and Shane Hammond put runners on the corners for the 'Cats in the fourth, and Matt Ray's RBI groundout trimmed the lead to 4-2.
Davidson tied the game with two runs in the fifth. Shore recorded a one-out double and Kayne walked. Chase FitzPatrick drove in Shore with a single, and Danny Weiss plated Kayne with a double.
The 'Cats got runners on in the sixth and ninth inning but could not get the go-ahead run. Ray singled in the sixth and advanced to third with two outs, and Shore reached on a two-out single in the top of the ninth.
Senior Brant West allowed four runs and five hits in 4.2 innings of work. It was the senior's first start since 2006. Ian Horkley and Matt Sliwiak combined to throw 3.1 innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
Davidson returns to action with a three-game set at SoCon opponent The Citadel this weekend. Friday's opening game begins at 4 p.m.
