Baseball rallies to win against Appalachian State 13-4
Two days after defeating Duke 11-3 and keeping their ACC Tournament hopes in good standing, Virginia Tech’s baseball team was back to action at English Field, this time versus the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
Earlier this week, Virginia Tech pitcher Jon Woodcock won the Skelton Award for his continued Academic Excellence in Athletics. This speaks to Woodcock's efforts in addition to those of his Hokie teammates in this evening’s game: smart.
In a typical “answering back” game, the Hokies continued to tie the game up through patient batting, before eventually taking the lead for good.
Starting in the first inning, Virginia Tech freshman pitcher Connor Coward hit the first batter he faced. However, Coward quickly regained his composure striking out the next batter he faced. Coward ended the inning keeping the Mountaineers from scoring, forcing two fly outs.
On the opposing side, Appalachian State starting pitcher Blake Burkett’s night also started strong, getting three straight groundouts. Both pitchers’ play looked strong in the first.
Appalachian State struck first with a run in the top of the second. The damage was limited, however, leaving the bases loaded with Coward striking out his second batter, Dillon Dobson.
The Hokies quickly answered, scoring a run themselves with their turn to bat. Off the single by freshman Joe Freiday Jr., the Hokies tied the game 1-1.
Yet, like Appalachian State, Virginia Tech was unable to fully capitalize, as the team too left the bases loaded.
The trend of the Hokies answering the Mountaineers scoring continued in the third inning.
After the Mountaineers scored two runs in the top of the third, the Hokies answered back scoring three runs, retaking the lead 4-3.
These runs were in large patience. The Hokies loaded the bases, earning two walks and one single, before scoring two of their three runs this inning off an additional walk and a wild pitch. Senior Sean Keselica came up clutch in his first at bat, making enough contact to drive in the other run with his groundout.
“Winning is a learned process. So, too, is being patient at the plate,” head coach Patrick Mason said. “I thought we, especially Payne (who earned five bases on balls and two RBIs on the night), stayed committed to that process tonight.”
In the top of the fourth, the Hokies got back to their first inning ways, keeping the Mountaineers scoreless.
While in the bottom of the inning, back-to-back singles by Ryan Tufts and Saige Jenco in addition to Rahiem Cooper being hit by a pitch set up Alex Perez’s walk to earn the Hokies their first run of the inning.
This run not only started a scoring spree to bust open the game, but it also led to the game’s first pitching change, as Appalachian State went to the bullpen early.
The replacement, Ryan Ross, would do no better; walking another batter and allowing another run. DH Sean Keselica again came up big with a two-run single. The score now stood at 9-3.
Keselica was big on the night as a whole, as he went 1-2 on the night, with two walks and driving in three runs.The Hokies went on to score a total of five runs in the inning.
Coward left his second and third inning struggles behind, continuing his first and fourth inning success, as he kept the Mountaineers to just one hit in the fifth. His night ended with a fairly great stat line, pitching five strong innings and allowing just three runs. He also struck out four.
Coward, now 2-0 on the season, credited both experience and his teammates for his confidence.
“I’ve had my fair share of struggles, and my pitches have been all over the place at times. But now, I just stay strong and strive to get strikes, to get balls in play for outs and to throw pitches the batters will reach for,” the pitcher said.
“My teammates were a pitcher’s dream to pitch for tonight. To get to pitch with the lead or to get me back into position for the lead was great.”
Woodcock came in to relieve Coward in the sixth. Woodcock followed Coward’s lead, striking out two, keeping Appalachian State scoreless and with just one hit in the three innings he pitched.
Following Woodcock, Luis Collazo received some relieving work, finishing the game in the ninth inning with just one hit and one score allowed, striking out and grounding out the final two batters.
In terms of batting, the Hokies closed out the game strong, scoring four additional runs in the final four innings, with the final score being 13-4.
Virginia Tech had the type of game it needed. Having to answer back early, the Hokies showed resiliency, as they improved to 21-24 overall and 11-8 at home. Resiliency will prove vital as the team tries to finish the season strong and earn an ACC postseason position.