Contact: Chris Kilcoyne

Virginia Tech Opens Season With 6-4 Win Over Campbell

BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Jed English's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning, scoring Brad Bauber proved to be the difference as Virginia Tech defeated Campbell University, 6-4, in baseball action Friday afternoon in Buies Creek, N.C.
The Fighting Camels jumped on the board early when Jeff Blick opened the home half of the first with a walk then advanced to second on a Chris Wiley free pass. Josh Cotten then lined a single into left field, scoring Blick and staking CU to a 1-0 lead.
Campbell starter Jeff Stovall held the Hokies in check through five innings, allowing just three hits. In the sixth, Stovall walked lead off hitter Chris Stanton. Stovall then made way for right-hander Brandon Yates, who then allowed Stanton to advance to third on an errant pick off attempt. With one out, VT's Wyatt Toregas put the Hokies ahead with his first homerun of the season. Virginia Tech built on their lead with two outs, when Marc Tugwell singled, followed by back-to-back walks to English and Phillip Beal and then a two-run scoring single by Joe Daly, giving the Hokies a 4-1 lead.
Trailing in the bottom of the seventh, CU's Derek Barrows cut the Virginia Tech lead in half when he deposited his first home run of the year over the left field wall leading off the inning. A Tom Rispoli single and a Sal Deanda double chased Hokie starter Jeff Landing from the game. Right-hander Nicky Bowers took the mound and walked Lonnie Whitehead to load the bases. After Bowers retired Blick for the second out, Camel Head Coach Chip Smith called upon Kyle Ellenz to pinch-hit for Nic Ewing. Ellenz was able to line a single up the middle that plated both Rispoli and Deanda, tying the game at 4-4.
The Hokies manufactured what proved to be the game-winning run in the eighth off Camel reliever Joey Babyak. Bauder singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tugwell and scored on English's single.
VT added insurance in ninth on a two out run scoring double by Toregas off CU's Pat Murray, scoring Chris Winterfeldt.
Matt Dalton earned the save pitching the ninth, striking out a batter and walking one.
With the win Virginia Tech is 1-0, while the Camels fall to 1-3 on the season. These two teams are scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon in Buies Creek at 2:00 p.m. [Box Score]