Hokies Outlast Flashes in Sunday Twin Bill

Sunday, February 21

Blacksburg, VA

11:00 AM

Kent State University

0-1

Virginia Tech

1-0

Kent State

Virginia Tech

Hokies Outlast Flashes in Sunday Twin Bill

2/21/2021 5:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BLACKSBURG, VA- Luke Albright had a strong first start of the year and Justin Miknis recorded a pair of multi-hit games, but the Virginia Tech Hokies swept a double header from the Golden Flashes winning 3-1 and 9-2 on Sunday afternoon.

GAME ONE: Virginia Tech 3 Kent State 1

The opening game of the 2021 season was a pitcher's duel between Chris Gerard for the Hokies and Luke Albright for the Golden Flashes. Albright settled in nicely after a rocky first inning to allow just two runs on one hit and striking out seven over five innings. Gerard was a step better, going six innings allowing one run on four hits and matching Albright's seven strike outs.

The Hokies manufactured a run in the first, getting a lead-off walk and steal by Brennan Reback and a run-scoring groundout by Kevin Madden. Kent State got on the board in the third as Justin Miknis dropped a double into left-center field, scoring Ben Carew. It was one of four doubles on the day for the Golden Flashes.

It remained tied into the fifth when another Albright walk came around to score. This time it was Cade Swisher scoring on the first collegiate hit for Tanner Schoebel, a double down the left field line. The Hokies would add an insurance run in the sixth, drawing a bases-loaded walk off of reliever Jack Zimmerman.

The Flashes had scoring chances throughout but could not capitalize. The Flashes made the Hokies sweat in the ninth inning, getting a single and a walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. The Hokies' Jaison Heard got a fielder's choice and flyout to end the threat. In total, Kent State left eight on base in game one with six-of-eight stranded in scoring position.

GAME TWO: Virginia Tech 9 Kent State 2

Southpaw Collin Romel got the ball in game two and was rudely welcomed by the Hokies' offense. In the bottom of the first, Virginia Tech got the first two runners on with singles and loaded the bases with two outs. Romel walked in a run before Tanner Schoebel struck again, this time a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-0 Hokies after one. Gavin Cross added to the Hokies' lead in the second, sending an 0-1 offering over the right field wall for a two-run homer. Romel worked a quiet third but that would be all for the lefty, as Ryan Lane took over in the fourth.

Lane held the Hokies in check, throwing three shutout innings of relief. The Kent State offense got going in the sixth as Carew and Miknis each singled and Cam Touchette got hit for the third time in the game to load the bases. Colin Mathews came through with a looping single to center to bring home a pair and make it 5-2.

The two-run sixth allowed the Flashes to get into the Virginia Tech bullpen. Starter Anthony Simonelli was great through 5-plus innings but left with one out in the sixth. Kent State got the two runs off of Peyton Alford, forcing him to throw 35 pitches in one inning of work. The Hokies then used four pitchers in the seventh. After the Flashes had worked two walks, Ben Carew singled to load the bases. But Shane Connolly played fireman, striking out Miknis and Dobos to leave the bases loaded and keep it a 5-2 game.

Virginia Tech was able to break it open late, scoring one in the seventh off two Fritz Genther steals and three more in the eighth to make it 9-2. Connolly retired the side in the ninth to secure the eight-out save.

The Flashes will be back in action next weekend, heading to the Volunteer State to take on Tennessee Tech. First pitch from Cookeville, Tennessee is set for 3 p.m. on Friday.