Sam Fragale powers Hokies to season-opening win

First baseman hits three home runs in Tech's 11-3 victory

February 17, 2017

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (1-0)	3	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	3	11	14	2
USC Upstate (0-1)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	3	9	2
Harley Park - 248 Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Redshirt-junior Sam Fragale had a career afternoon, belting three home runs in a 5-for-5 effort, while also driving in seven total runs to lead Virginia Tech baseball to a season-opening victory at Harley Park Friday. Fragale was one of three Hokies to hit a home run in the game as Tech opened the 2017 season with an 11-3 win over the USC Upstate Spartans.

In the first, with a 1-0 lead, Fragale blasted a two-out, two-run home run to center, then gave Tech a 5-0 advantage with a solo shot in the third, before hitting another two-run homer off the scoreboard in left in the fifth to make in 8-0.

Fragale became the first Hokie to notch a three-home run game since Chris Kay hit three versus Delaware State on May 10, 2009, while the seven RBIs was also a career high. It tied for the most RBIs for a Hokie since the team joined the ACC, with four other guys – the last to do it was Phil Sciretta at Old Dominion on Feb. 27, 2016.

The five home runs hit by Tech – Joe Freiday, Jr. and Rahiem Cooper each hit solo shots in the second and fourth respectively – were the most since Tech hit five on May 12, 2013 (Tyler Horan, Mark Zagunis two each, one for Sean Keselica).

On the mound, Packy Naughton struck out six in just over four innings of work, but Nick Anderson picked up his first collegiate victory on the mound after tossing 2.2 relief innings of scoreless ball.

Inside the box score

• Anderson: double, 14th of his career; three hits, 18th career multi-hit game, sixth game with at least three hits; three runs scored, sixth career multi-run scoring game.
• Cooper: home run, second of his career.
• Fragale: three home runs, 11 for his career, first career multi-homer game; triple, second of his career; double, 16th of his career; career-high five hits, 16th career multi-hit game; career-high seven RBIs, 14th career multi-RBI game; career-high four runs, 10th career multi-run scoring game.
• Freiday, Jr.: home run, fourth of his career, two hits, ninth multi-hit game of his career.
• Stevie Mangrum: pinch-hit RBI single, second career pinch hit.
• Naughton: started back-to-back season-openers, first pitcher since David Cross (2006-07); six strikeouts, 11th game with at least five.
• Jack Owens: made his first start as a Hokie; stolen base, his first at Tech.
• Tufts: started his 73rd straight game at Tech, which leads the team; two hits, 28th multi-hit game of his career; double, 23rd of his career.
• Graham Seitz: first collegiate appearance on the mound; first career strikeout.

More Tech Notes

• Improves to 63-59-2 in season openers and win its first since the 2013 season;
• Is now 5-0 all-time against USC Upstate, including a 3-0 mark in Spartanburg and are now 7-1 all-time in the city;
• Has now won six straight on Feb. 17 and are 6-1 all-time.

Up next

• Tech will continue its weekend series against the Spartans with a Saturday game starting at 1 p.m.

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