April 23, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Virginia Tech left fielder Andrew Rash went 4-for-4 with two home runs, pitcher Marc Zecchino scattered 10 hits in eight innings and the Hokies used a six-run fourth inning to propel them to an 11-2 win over Maryland Saturday afternoon.
The Terps (17-24, 4-16) had at least one hit in every inning and finished with 11 in the game, but left eight runners on base and grounded into three double plays. They were unable to get on the scoreboard until the seventh, when the Hokies (22-19, 6-14) held a comfortable nine-run lead.
Virginia Tech struck early, using a run-scoring single by Ronnie Shaban and a RBI double by Rash to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Maryland starting pitcher Brady Kirkpatrick then seemed to settle in and had retired eight straight batters after Tim Smalling fouled out to the catcher on the first pitch of the fourth inning.
But Kirkpatrick hit Rash, the next batter, on the elbow on a full count and walked Tony Balisteri to put runners on first and second. Tech designated hitter Michael Blow then ripped a two-run double to left field for the first two runs of the inning and after Chris Kay struck out the Hokies used a walk, two singles and a double to break the game open.
Rash hit a solo homer to left field in the seventh for a 9-0 lead and knocked a two-run shot again to left field in the ninth to make it 11-2.
Terrapin freshmen Charlie White and Austin Kilbourne had three hits apiece, while junior Korey Wacker had two, but Maryland was unable to get a timely hit with runners on until late in the contest.
Kyle Convissar led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and a batter later White singled through the right side to give the Terps their first run, and pinch-hitter Curtis Lazar accounted for the other run with a home run to right field in the ninth.
Zecchino (4-4) surrendered one run on 10 hits and a walk to earn the win, while Kirkpatrick (2-2) took the loss after giving up eight runs on six hits and three walks in four innings.
The Terps and Hokies conclude the series on Sunday at noon.
