Gamble improves average to .438

Box Score
BLACKSBURG, Va., March 3, 2007 – Virginia Tech’s Bryan Thomas doubled home two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Virginia Tech an 11-10 win over North Carolina A&T at English Field on the campus of Virginia Tech University. Charlie Gamble led the Aggies with a 3-for-5 performance that included three RBI and a run scored.

Lester Rivenbark added two hits, scored twice and had a RBI for the Aggies who dropped to 2-6 on the season.

The Aggies had taken a 10-9 lead with three runs in the top of the eighth inning, but saw reliever Ronald Phelps, Jr., walk the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth. Jonathan Smith replaced Phelps on the mound to face Thomas, who laced Smith's second pitch into the left field corner to score both runners and improve the Hokies record to 6-4.

Thomas' hit made a winner of sophomore pitcher Rhett Ballard, who entered the game for reliever Adam Redd to begin the eighth inning. North Carolina A&T pinch-hitter Joe Wade greeted Ballard with a home run to left field and the Aggies went on to score two more runs on a two-out single by junior designated hitter Joe McIntyre. Ballard struck out first baseman Kory Kinnear to end the inning, and then struck out the side in the ninth. The right-hander improved to 2-1 with the win, while Phleps dropped to 0-1.  

Tech broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when Thomas reached on a two-out single, stole second base and scored on a single by first baseman Sean O'Brien. The Aggies responded with a run of their own in the top of the fourth when center fielder CJ Beatty singled home McIntyre to even the score.

The Hokies regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Left fielder Sean Ryan singled to get things started with two outs. Freshman catcher Anthony Sosnoskie followed with his second home run of the season to put Tech up 3-1. Center fielder Nate Parks kept the inning alive with a walk, then promptly stole second base. He scored on a single by second baseman Matt Hacker.

 Tech increased its lead to 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Luke Padgett in the fifth.

 N.C. A&T would not let the game get away, however.  

 The Aggies bounced back strong with a six-run sixth inning. A three-run home run by right fielder Charlie Gamble, the 28^th of his career, capped the Aggies' big inning. The Aggies also got RBI-singles from catcher Ty Gwyn and shortstop Nick Mayo, and a run-scoring double from Rivenbark during the rally.

 Tech came back with a rally of its own, scoring four times in the bottom of the inning. The two teams are scheduled to complete their three-game series in Blacksburg on Sunday at 1 p.m.