It was not a sunny day in Blacksburg, Virginia. But in spite of multiple rain delays, NC State baseball picked up a 14-7 win over Virginia Tech behind a big eighth inning.
The Pack (27-15, 10-10 ACC) was running the bases of the Hokies’ Atlantic Union Bank Park all day through the persistent sprinkle. NC State’s bats gave Virginia Tech (21-20, 10-13 ACC) fits as it recorded 15 hits and mashed three home runs.
After a defensive clash in Game 1, both teams pulled a complete 180, hitting balls everywhere. The power we saw today showed flashes of how good the Wolfpack can be when it’s switched on at the plate.
After the first rain delay, the Hokies held a one-run lead over the Pack in the top of the fourth. Sophomore center fielder Ty Head came to the plate looking to capitalize with speedy left fielder Rett Johnson on second base. He demolished a two-run, 359-foot homer over the right field wall to give NC State the lead.
Head finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate, scoring two singles in addition to the homer. He got on base every time up, reaching on a fielder’s choice in the sixth and taking his base after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth.
With Head’s 12th home run of the season, the Wolfpack claimed its first lead of the day and didn’t look back. The Hokies had scored in four of the first five innings, but would go scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Junior second baseman Luke Nixon joined Head in leading the Pack’s offense, finishing the game with three hits of his own and an RBI. Nixon also joined Head in leaving the ballpack, mashing a 430-foot home run to dead center in the top of the ninth to nail the coffin shut on the Hokies.
The second rain delay came in the eighth inning where the Wolfpack held an 8-7 lead with two players on. After a two-hour delay, players can get stiff and waiting can be detrimental to rhythm on both sides of the ball. The eighth inning would prove disastrous for the Hokies, as the Pack scored five runs on three hits.
After the game resumed, Virginia Tech tried a pitching change. Aiden Robertson came on for the Hokies for damage control, but ended up causing more harm than good. He hit Head with a pitch to drive in a run with the bases loaded, and allowed for another run to score off a sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Chris McHugh.
Junior lefthander Cooper Consiglio got the start on the hill for the Pack. He threw four complete innings, grabbing five strikeouts on 98 pitches. Consiglio has been getting more action with the thinned bullpen, but he still has a way to go on becoming a dependable starter. The Hokies were picking the lefty apart, scoring seven runs on seven hits.
The win was awarded to sophomore righty Ryder Garino. Garino came in relief in the fifth inning, and had a career day in the rain. The South Carolina transfer threw a career-high seven strikeouts through nine batters faced. He was the last person Virginia Tech wanted to see on the mound, as the Hokies couldn’t manage a single hit off of him.
The Wolfpack will try to clinch the season series with Virginia Tech tomorrow, Sunday, April 26. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
