Tech's early deficit too much to overcome

Nick Menken had two hits and two RBI in 10-5 loss to West Virginia

May 9, 2018

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia Mountaineers opened the game with the first seven runs and held off a late Virginia Tech comeback effort to defeat the Hokies 10-5 on Wednesday night in nonconference action at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Michael Fernandez led the Hokies with a season-high tying three hits, while Nick Menken had two hits and a team-high two RBI.

West Virginia (25-21) scored seven unanswered runs over the first three frames putting a three-spot on the board in the first and two each in the second and third innings. Darius Hill and Brandon White each drove in two during the run, while Braden Zarbnisky crossed the plate twice.

Tech (20-27) broke the string with three runs of its own in the fourth, getting to relief arm Tristen Hudson. Jack Owens led off the inning with a single and JD Mundy drew a one-out walk, which saw the Mountaineers turn to Hudson.

After starting Menken with a strike, Hudson’s next four pitches produced an RBI single by Menken, a single by Fernandez – that loaded the bases – an RBI hit-by-pitch from Nick Owens and an RBI for Stevie Mangrum on an error that cut the Hokies’ deficit to 7-3.

After the Mountaineers took one back in the home half of the fourth, the Hokies pushed single runs across the plate to inch closer – Andrew Webb scored Fernandez in the sixth and Menken drove home JD Mundy in the seventh – making it 8-5. Tech actually had two runners on with two outs later in the inning, but was held scoreless the rest of the way.

West Virginia also added a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the eighth before closing the game in the ninth.

Inside the Box

• Nic Enright – three strikeouts, fifth time this season, 13th time in his career with at least three in a game.
• Fernandez – three hits, eighth multi-hit game of the year; third game of career with at least three hits.
• Menken – two hits, 11th multi-hit game of the year; two RBI, fifth multi-RBI game this season.
• Mundy – double, fourth of the season, ninth of his career; two runs, fourth multi-run scoring game of the year, 10th of his career.
• Graham Seitz – one scoreless inning pitched, 15 for the season, 19 in his career; it was perfect, now has seven this season and eight in his career.
• Tom Stoffel – double, ninth of the season, 46th of his career.
• Joey Sullivan – one scoreless inning pitched, 24 this season, 87 in his career.

Up Next

• Tech returns home to close out its 2018 home slate, starting with an ACC weekend series against Miami, before hosting William & Mary next Tuesday. The three-game set versus the Hurricanes starts on Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch.

Tickets

• For fans looking to attend this weekend’s ACC games against, please be aware tickets are required for all ACC games at English Field at Union Park. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets in advance.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesBaseball