May 2, 2010
Tech completes sweep of BC with 10-5 victory
Ryan, Sosnoskie and Domecus combine for nine hits and six RBIs
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Boston College (24-20) 000103001581
(18) Virginia Tech (32-14) 10011421X10140
  • English Field - 1,707

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech scored four runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good and complete a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference baseball sweep of Boston College with a 10-5 win at English Field on Sunday. The sweep was the Hokies’ first conference sweep of the season and just their second overall since joining the ACC in 2004-05.

The Hokies are now 32-14 overall and 14-10 in conference play. BC fell to 24-20 and is now all even in the ACC at 12-12.

Tech out-hit the visitors 14-8, with left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie leading the way with a 4-for-5 day that included two runs batted in and a run scored. Sean Ryan contributed three hits in four trips, scoring three runs and driving in one. Catcher Steve Domecus knocked in three runs for the Hokies with a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. Infielders Mickey Wiswall and Brad Zapenas had two hits each for BC.

Tech picked up a run in the first inning when Sosnoskie tripled off the wall in left-center field, setting up Domecus’ sacrifice fly to right. The Eagles evened the count in the fourth when first baseman Wiswall collected his 13th homer of the season. It was the first of two four-baggers for Wiswall, who smacked his 14th in the ninth inning with two outs and nobody on.

The Hokies retook the lead in the fourth when right fielder Austin Wates doubled, moved to third on a groundout and came home on a BC fielding error. Consecutive singles by center fielder Ryan, Sosnoskie and Domecus extended the advantage to 3-1 an inning later, with Domecus picking up his second RBI of the game.

Tech starting pitcher Joe Mantiply allowed just one run on three hits over the first five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth. The freshman left-hander gave up singles to John Spatola and Anthony Melchionda and hit Andrew Lawrence with a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Relief pitcher Sean McDermott walked shortstop Zapenas to score Spatola and catcher Garrett Smith followed with a two-run, bloop-single to give the Eagles a brief 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Hokies responded with some two-out magic of their own. With two outs and third baseman Ronnie Shaban and shortstop Tim Smalling aboard via base hits, redshirt-freshman Andrew Rash singled in Shaban to tie the game. Ryan followed with his third single of the game to score Smalling. After Ryan stole second, Sosnoskie delivered a two-run single for a 7-4 Tech lead.

Second baseman Michael Seaborn extended the Tech lead to 9-4 with a two-run homer in the seventh. It was the fourth round-tripper of the year for the redshirt junior. The Hokies tacked on an additional run in the eighth on an RBI-single by Domecus.

Mantiply ended up being charged with four runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings of duty. He struck out five, including the first four men he faced. McDermott pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first decision of the season. The junior left-hander allowed just two hits, striking out one batter and walking one. Ben Rowen worked the ninth inning, giving up a run on Wiswall’s second homer. Boston College starter John Leonard (2-1) suffered his first loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) over 5.2 innings on the mound. He struck out five men and walked one.

Tech’s next scheduled action is a non-conference home game against Davidson on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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

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