April 19, 2009
Winning streak ends for Tech with 8-1 loss to No. 18 Clemson
Buddy Sosnoskie ties career high with three hits
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(18) Clemson (26-14) 0033020008121
Virginia Tech (24-13) 0000000011110
  • English Field - 509

BLACKSBURG, Va. No. 18 Clemson ended the Virginia Tech baseball team’s eight-game winning streak, as well as its six-game conference streak, on Sunday afternoon at English Field by a score of 8-1.

Though the Hokies (24-13, 9-11 ACC) collected 11 hits in the contest, they were scattered throughout the first eight frames until three hits in the ninth helped prevent their first shutout in 71 games. The Tigers avoided the sweep to improve to 26-14 overall and 12-9 in league play.

A pair of two-out walks, followed by a three-run homer to left field by Clemson right fielder Kyle Parker, broke a scoreless tie in the third inning. It was Parker’s first hit of the three-game series. The inning could have been much worse for the Hokies, but leadoff batter Addison Johnson was thrown out over-sliding second base while trying to stretch his single to right field into a double. Tech starting pitcher Mathew Price (Marietta, Ga.) then hit Tiger designated hitter Jeff Schaus with a pitch. Schaus was thrown out attempting to steal second before Price issued back-to-back free passes to second baseman Mike Freeman and first baseman Ben Paulsen.

The Tigers chased Price an inning later with three more runs, this time using four singles and a walk. Schaus, Freeman and Paulsen each singled in runs during the frame.

Tech had trouble figuring out Clemson left-hander Casey Harman, who started and pitched six scoreless innings before turning things over to right-hander Scott Weismann to start the seventh. Harman gave up one hit in each of his six innings, but only allowed the Hokies more than one base runner in the first inning. He improved his record to 4-3 with the win, striking out five batters and a walking none.

Meanwhile, the Tiger bats produced two more runs in the sixth when Freeman belted a two-run homer to right field off Tech reliever Sean McDermott (Walpole, Mass.). Schaus, who was hit by a pitch, scored ahead of the Freeman round-tripper.

Freeman and Parker both drove in three runs for the Tigers. Freeman was joined by third baseman Matt Sanders with three hits apiece as Clemson collected 12 base knocks for the afternoon.

Tech picked up one hit in each of the first eight innings before posting three hits and breaking up the shutout in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Matt Shoemaker (Newport, News, Va.) drove in the Hokies’ lone run with a single, his first hit as a Hokie. Designated hitter/first baseman Buddy Sosnoskie (Front Royal, Va.) was the only Tech player with multiple hits, picking up singles in each of his last three at bats.

Price took the loss for the Hokies, dropping to 3-2 on the season. The freshman right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings pitched.

The Hokies are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday evening with a 5:30 home contest against William & Mary.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).

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