Hokies Get Another Baseball Win

On a breezy Saturday evening at English Field, the No. 16 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies turned an early pitching duel into a 12-0 baseball shutout against Savannah State.

The first pitch was scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with left-handed pitcher Justin Wright set to take the mound for the Hokies, against Savannah State’s Michael Allegretti.

Before the game, the Department of Student Activities was sponsoring an end-of-the-year tailgate with free food and drinks for Virginia Tech students, given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Interim Director of Student Activities Monica Hunter threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the game.

“It was a lot of fun, but a little short of home plate,” Hunter said jokingly. “I was told I was doing it an hour before the game, so I didn’t really have time to mentally prepare myself. But the one thing everyone was telling me was to make sure I reached the plate.”

The end-of-the-year tailgate began around 6:30 p.m. and continued until the third inning of the game. Vice President of Student Affairs Edward Spencer was working at the tailgate, handing out hot dogs and hamburgers to students.

“We’re doing this for Virginia Tech student appreciation,” Spencer said. “It’s been pretty crowded and we’ve been letting students come back and forth for more. It’s the first year we are trying this and so far it has been great.”

Hunter and Spencer both talked afterwards about how few baseball games they’re able to attend throughout the year, and how nice it is to watch the team play.

“I don’t get to come out as often as I should,” Spencer said. “Head coach Pete Hughes is actually my next-door neighbor, so I always like to come and cheer him on.”

Hunter says she usually brings her son, who plays Little League Baseball, out to a few Virginia Tech baseball games each year so he can watch the team play.

When the game began temperatures dropped into the 50s and the stadium lights came on. Wright and Allegretti were both pitching scoreless games after the first couple of Innings.

With the combination of the wind and the fact that most Virginia Tech students are studying for final exams this week, there were a lot of empty seats in the stands.

“The last few games I’ve been too have been a lot more crowded then tonight,” one Hokie fan said. “Especially since we’ve been ranked No. 16 in the country, I expect there to be more students coming to root for the team.”

When the tailgate ended the game remained tied 0-0. The first run came on a solo home run by designated hitter Matt Blow in the fifth inning, and the Hokies didn’t look back from there. Wright threw five shutout innings and the Hokies scored 11 more runs, thanks in large part to right fielder Austin Wates, who hit two homers and drove in five runs.

For those who did attend the game, there was a sense of Hokie spirit in the crowd that most fans have only felt with the Virginia Tech football team, and maybe a few times at the basketball games. But the Virginia Tech baseball team is now 33-15 on the season, ranked No. 16 in the country and heading towards a trip to the College Baseball World Series.