Ethan Ball drove in four runs to help the Virginia Tech baseball team defeat NC State 5-4 at English Field, according to an April 26 announcement. Griffin Stieg pitched seven innings for the Hokies, who secured another Atlantic Coast Conference series win.
Ball was involved in all five of Virginia Tech’s runs. He scored after a leadoff double in the second inning and later hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, his tenth of the season. Ball also delivered a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that brought home what would be the game-winning run.
Stieg kept NC State hitless into the fourth inning and allowed only one significant rally until late in his outing. After retiring 16 of the first 18 batters he faced, Stieg gave up several hits during the sixth inning, which led to a bases-clearing double by Sherman Johnson that put NC State ahead 3-1.
Virginia Tech responded quickly with Sam Grube starting off their half of the sixth with a single. Following a walk to Henry Cooke, Ball turned an 0-2 count into his go-ahead three-run homer over right field. The Hokies maintained their lead until Ty Head tied it for NC State with an RBI double in the eighth.
In their half of the eighth, Ethan Gibson singled and Cooke doubled before Ball’s sacrifice fly brought Gibson home after a review confirmed he tagged up legally from third base. Chase Swift closed out the game for Virginia Tech by striking out Brandon Novy and earning his first collegiate save.
Virginia Tech has now won six of its last eight games and improved its record when holding opponents to four or fewer runs this season. The team is scheduled to play James Madison at English Field on Tuesday, April 28.
