BLACKSBURG, Va. (Feb. 24, 2009) - A four run seventh was all the ETSU baseball team needed as they defeated Virginia Tech 7-3 at English field in Blacksburg, Va. Tuesday afternoon to improve to 3-0 on the season.

"What a great performance by Bo Reeder," said head coach Tony Skole. "He did a little bit of everything today. It sure was fun to watch him compete."

Freshman Bo Reeder (Cookeville, Tenn.) looked impressive on the mound in his first start as he went six innings only allowing two runs on six hits and struck out one earning his first win of the year.

"This was a good win against a good team," Skole added. "I am anxious to see how we play tomorrow."

Virginia Tech got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Ronnie Shaban doubled home a run to take a 1-0 lead.

The Bucs tied things up in the top of the fifth as Jacob Fabry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) drove in Chas Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) on a grounder to second. ETSU then took the lead, 2-1, as Ben Allen (Kingsport, Tenn.) came in to score on a Virginia Tech error.

In the bottom of the fifth, things were not looking good for the Bucs as the Hokies loaded the bases with no outs, but Reeder got a strikeout and a double play to get out of the inning unscathed.

Steve Domecus tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the six as he doubled down the left field line to bring in a run, but the Hokies left another runner stranded as the ETSU defense made a couple good plays to get out of the inning.

After gaining some momentum from some good defensive plays, ETSU jumped back out in front in the top of the seventh as Reeder helped his own cause as he tripled to right center bringing in Fabry and Allen to make the score 4-2 Bucs. In the next at bat, Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) crushed a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run to extend the lead to 6-2.

Virginia Tech cut into the ETSU lead in the bottom of the eighth as Shaban singled up  the middle to drive in a run to make the score 6-3 Bucs.

Hoilman added a little insurance in the top of the ninth as he brought in Fabry on a sac fly to right to increase the ETSU lead to 7-3.

Dustin Plumlee (Powell, Tenn.) picked up his second save of the season as he came in, in the seventh and held the Hokies' offense at bay giving up only one unearned run on one hit and struck out one.

"Dustin Plumlee was very tough out of the bullpen today," Skole said. "He pounded the zone, and was really sinking the ball today. Ben Allen was also tremendous today as he is playing at a very high level with a lot of confidence."

ETSU was led offensively by Reeder and Hoilman as Reeder went 2-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBI, while Hoilman was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Allen also had two hits in the game.

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow at 3 p.m. against Virginia Tech at English Field in Blacksburg, Va. as ETSU will look to sweep its second straight series of the season.

Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.

ETSU 7, Virginia Tech 3 (Feb. 24, 2009 at Blacksburg, Va.)
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ETSU..........000  020  401   -  7  6  2  (3-0)

VT…...........010  001  010   -  3  7  2  (4-1)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Bo Reeder; Dustin Plumlee (7)
VT - Marc Zecchino; Clark Labitan (7); Ben Rowan (7); Dave Zappacosta (9); Kyle Cichy (9)

Win - Bo Reeder (1-0) Loss - Clark Labitan (0-1) Save - Dustin Plumlee (2)  

HR - ETSU - Paul Hoilman (2)