LATE-INNING COMEBACK PUSHES VT PAST JMU 13-9

Wednesday, April 8

Blacksburg, Va.

5:30 PM

James Madison University

17-16

Virginia Tech

18-12

James Madison

Virginia Tech

4/9/2009 1:15:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va., April 8, 2009 ? Virginia Tech scored 11 unanswered runs to turn a 9-2 deficit into a 13-9 victory over James Madison in a non-conference baseball game on Wednesday evening at English Field.

VT improved to 18-12 on the season and swept the season series between the teams for the first time since 1993. JMU dropped to 17-16.

JMU built a 9-2 lead after three and a half innings and still held that advantage going into the bottom of the sixth when the Hokies struck for four runs. They added three in the seventh to tie the score and then put the game away with another four runs in the eighth.

Sean McDermott earned the win in relief for the Hokies with 2 2/3 no-hit innings and three strikeouts. JMU did all of its damage against starter Marc Zecchino, who allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 10 hits in four innings.

The loss went to senior Justin Wood (Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby), who allowed six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings. The loss spoiled a strong start by sophomore left-hander Alex Valadja (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic), who allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Right fielder Mike Kaminski drove in four runs with a single, triple, and scored three times. Left fielder Klint Reed was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Catcher Steve Domecus and second baseman Michael Seaborn each had two hits, a walk, and an RBI. Ronnie Shaban drove in three on a bases-loaded double to break the game open in the eighth.

JMU was led by redshirt junior center fielder Matt Townsend (Lorton, Va./Hayfield), who was 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs, and three RBIs while extending his hitting streak to 23 games. Junior left fielder Matt Browning (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) was also 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a run, and an RBI. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Trevor Knight (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield) hit a two-run homer in the first