Hokies get past ECU

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 27, 2006 2:29 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Jose Cueto's two-run homer in the fourth inning was all the Hokies needed as Virginia Tech beat East Carolina, 5-1, Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium in the second game of the day of the Keith LeClair Classic sponsored by Wachovia and Trade-Wilco.

The Hokies improve to 3-2 on the season, winning their first game of the classic while ECU drops to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in KLC action.

Virginia Tech starter Ryan Kennedy picked up his first win, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four and walking one in seven innings of work. Adam Redd pitched a scoreless eight before Nicky Bowers came on in the ninth to seal the Hokie win.

Cueto, Nate Parks and Sean O'Brien each finished with two hits while Cueto provided the key offense, collecting two RBI and two runs.

Shane Mathews suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs on three hits in 51/3 innings. Scott Andrews gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two in three innings. Carter Harrell finished the final 2/3 of an inning.

Stephen Batts was the lone Pirate to finish with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

The Hokies took an early 2-0 lead with Cueto's two-run shot to left, scoring Sean O'Brien.

Virginia Tech added to its lead in the sixth when a Billy Marn single to right scored Sheldon Adams from third, pushing the Hokie lead to 3-0.

With the bases loaded and one away in the bottom of the sixth, Batts' fielder's choice grounder scored Jay Mattox from third to put ECU on the board.

VT added two more runs in the top of the ninth to close the scoring at 5-1.