Collegiate Times

By Jacob Emert, sports reporter

Updated: April 3, 2013

After the Hokies 11-5 win Tuesday night over VCU, head coach Pete Hughes said that Tanner McIntyre’s injured pitching shoulder that has limited him to only 26 innings would require surgery; McIntyre is out for the year.

The surgery will be to repair a torn right labrum.

The senior right-hander started four games this season for the Hokies and made five appearances out of the bullpen. He is 3-0 overall in his nine appearances with a 3.81 ERA, continuing his success from a season ago.

In 2012 McIntyre appeared 20 times in relief for the Hokies and finished the season with a 7-0 record and a 2.32 ERA.

In his career with the Hokies, the California native is 10-0, has a 2/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has only allowed four home runs in 57 innings of work.

It is currently unknown if McIntyre will be granted a medical redshirt, but it is a possibility he has expressed interest in.

McIntyre’s presence is greatly missed already by the Hokies pitching staff. Sean Keselica failed to earn what was McIntyre’s job as the weekday starter after two starts earlier in the year, and Colin O’Keefe and Brendon Hayden, who pitched the last two Tuesday’s respectively, both failed to get out of the second inning of their games.

Furthermore, using Keselica, O’Keefe and Hayden in the rotation limits the effectiveness of what was already an inconsistent bullpen.

The Hokies head into Raleigh, N.C. this weekend for a weekend series with the Wolfpack and return to English Field next Tuesday to face off against Longwood University. Hughes, along with pitching coach Pat Mason, will continue to try and find a suitor to fill McIntyre’s vacated shoes.

By Jacob Emert, sports reporter

Joe Manitply improved his record to 2-0 on the year after a dominating 6.2 innings of work over no. 4 Florida State. Mantiply allowed just one run and struck out seven.

Here is Mantiply:

On making his first home start of the year:

I was really excited. It was a big situation too. We won last night and had a tough first game and I was really excited to get on the mound.

On if there was any extra pressure following the game one loss:

There is always extra pressure but I just try to push that aside and not really think about that. I focus on what I need to do to get the job done.

On the difference between pitching on a Friday night and trying to close out a series:

Closing one out might be a little bigger because we really needed to win this series. They were ranked fourth in the nation and we needed to get back on track.

On when he could tell his stuff was working:

Right out of the ‘pen I knew I had my stuff today. I was throwing everything for a strike and it was all working.

On the extra importance on the series:

This week we had a team meeting. We didn’t play well against Miami or VMI so we just had to get everybody back on track and get everybody’s heads right so this is a huge series for us.

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Andrew Rash went 5-12 in the series including three doubles between the two Saturday games. He also made two web-gems in the outfield.

Here is Rash:

On refocusing mindset this weekend:

We are way better than we’ve been playing. This game is fun, there is no point of putting more pressure on yourself. This was amazing. To take two of three from a team like this is awesome. We played hard; we played the way that Coach Hughes wants us to play.

On mentality after first game:

It’s kind of hard because at the same time you feel so good. You fight back and you’re one run away from tying that game up in the ninth and you get let down so quick, but at the same time you have to wash it. It’s kind of like making an error, you just have to wash it and move on. The mentality that we had going into the third game was unbelievable and I know we got our message across as leaders and older guys.

On difference between having success and struggling:

Playing loose and playing tight. Putting more pressure on yourself than you need to, and going out there having fun and just playing the game that we all love. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves because we are playing in the ACC, we are playing the top guys in the country and you get tight and … that’s the difference. This weekend we played loose, that’s the difference.

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Virginia Tech head coach Pete Hughes, who had not one a series since 2010, after Saturday’s doubleheader.

On Joe Mantiply’s performance:

You got a doubleheader. You got a crazy game where we didn’t get a great start game one and, boom we’re in our bullpen. That’s the worst case scenario with 18 innings is to get into your bullpen in the second inning …. To have Joe extend us and give us more than a quality start was mandatory and he was really good. His stuff was the best that I’ve seen this year so that was promising. And he’s healthy and such a competitor. He will compete without stuff and he had stuff today and everyone is more at ease when he is on the mound for us.

On reaction to the first loss:

I’m sick to my stomach. Sick to my stomach about it. It was 45 minutes between games; for 44 minutes I was sick to my stomach, which I really can’t let my team know exactly how I’m feeling but I’m sick to my stomach.

On team’s resiliency:

What a character builder for our guys. It’s definitely the only team I’ve ever coached in the ACC that’s come back from an 8-0 lead. That was awesome. Florida State goes up 8-0 on someone and it’s over.

Importance of ACC series win:

You always try and go out to win a series. We’re going to go home and say, ‘Man we should’ve swept them’. We need to go out and win a quality series and we beat a quality team. It’s what you have to do in our league and from day one that’s our goal. You have to play better in league and I thought we did that today. I think we did that this weekend …. That’s a sign of a mature team and it all predicated on a quality start.

By Matt Jones, sports editor

The weather over English Field may have been 61 degrees and cloudless but the play on the field for the first game of a double header between Florida State and Virginia Tech was anything but pretty.

The Hokies and Seminoles combined for 21 runs on 26 hits as No. 4 Florida State held on to beat the Hokies 11-10.

Florida State jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the second inning, using a five-run first inning to start the scoring. Tech starting pitcher Devin Burke lasted just one inning, allowing eight runs (two earned) while walking four batters.

Eddie Campbell, Jake Joyce and Sean Keselica handled the relief duties for the Hokies, allowing three runs over eight innings.

The Hokies battled back in the fourth, as they scored seven times against Florida State starter Scott Sitz. Tech used six hits and three errors to even the score at 8-8.

Florida State scored their remaining runs in the fifth and seventh to take an 11-8 lead.

Tech plated runs in the seventh and ninth, but the effort fell short of victory.

Game 3 of the series begins shortly. Tech will start senior Joe Mantiply (1-0, 4.20 ERA), while the Seminoles counter with Peter Miller (3-0, 3.20 ERA). The rubber match of the series will determine whether the Hokies climb back into the Top 25.

For updates, follow @MattJonesCT and @jacobemert on Twitter.

By Jacob Emert, sports reporter

Virginia Tech’s opponents have scored less than seven runs in 16 games this season

So when the Hokies (17-6, 4-3 ACC) scored seven runs in the top of the ninth on Friday against the Miami Hurricanes (18-7, 3-4), it should have been more than enough to secure a win.

It wasn’t.

The Hokies dropped the opening game of this year’s ACC series between the Hokies and the Hurricanes in Coral Gables, 11-9.

Brad Markey took the mound on a Friday for just the second time this season – primarily due to a shift in the rotation following Joe Mantiply’s injury – and he didn’t have his best stuff.

Markey allowed seven earned runs on eight hits through 7.2 innings pitched. Perhaps most uncharacteristically, Markey issued three free passes during his sixth start of the year. He had only walked seven batters in his first five appearances.

After the Hokies posted two quick first inning runs, they recorded just four hits and scored no runs in the next seven frames.

Miami posted crooked numbers in the third, seventh and eighth innings and when the Hokies came to bat for their final chance in the top of the ninth they were trailing 11-2.

The Hokies refused to go away quietly.

Mark Zagunis drew a leadoff walk to begin a half-inning that would see four Miami pitchers and brought 11 Hokies batters to the plate. While seven Tech runners crossed the plate to make the ‘Canes sweat it out, Andrew Rash struck out for the final out of the game to end the threat.

The Hokies, who have not one a conference series in Miami since head coach Pete Hughes came to Blacksburg, will need to win Saturday at 7 p.m. for a chance to take the series on Sunday.

By Matt Jones, sports editor

On Tech Talk Live Monday night, Virginia Tech baseball head coach Pete Hughes said Joe Mantiply would likely return Sunday against Georgia Tech. Hughes did not specify in what capacity Mantiply would pitch, though.

That mystery was solved on Tuesday night, when Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game reported that Mantiply is expected to pitch Sunday in relief. Rogers said his maximum at this point is three innings.

Virginia Tech left-handed pitcher Joe Mantiply has been sidelined the past couple of weeks because of forearm stiffness, but the Hokies coaching staff confirmed to me Tuesday morning that the talented left-handed pitcher would return to the mound this weekend against Georgia Tech. Mantiply won’t start this weekend, but is expected to throw Sunday in relief, a maximum, at this point, of three innings.

Mantiply has missed his last two starts with stiffness in his forearm. He did not pitch over the summer, instead going through an arm conditioning program. He lasted just four innings and allowed nine hits in his lone start this season against Kent State on Feb. 15.

Here’s what Hughes had to say of Mantiply on Monday night on Tech Talk Live.

“Hopefully Joe Mantiply is on schedule, but I think we have him, I think we have him scripted out to pitch on Sunday (depending) where he’s at with his rehab,” Hughes said. “If he throws well in his side sessions this week and he tells me he’s good to go, then we’ll go ahead and slate him for Sunday.”

Hughes said Brad Markey (2-1, 2.14 ERA) and Devin Burke (3-0, 1.40 ERA) would probably start Friday and Saturday, respectively. Eddie Campbell (1-0, 2.40 ERA) has served as Tech’s third starter in Mantiply’s absence and is a likely candidate to start Sunday. Tanner McIntyre (1-0, 5.40 ERA) has also started three games this season.

The No. 24 Hokies (11-2) will face a Georgia Tech team this weekend that is tearing the cover off the ball. The No. 14 Yellow Jackets (12-1) have scored double digit runs in seven-straight games, one game shy of the school record set in 2005. Entering Tuesday night’s game against Mercer, Georgia Tech was hitting .350 as a team.

First pitch Friday night is set for 5:30 p.m. at English Field.

By Matt Jones, sports editor

Coming off another weekend series win, Virginia Tech’s baseball team is preparing to open up their ACC schedule this weekend against Georgia Tech.

The Hokies (11-2) play a Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend series against the Yellow Jackets. Head coach Danny Hall has Georgia Tech ranked at No. 14 this week.

Head coach Pete Hughes scheduled tougher this season in an effort to prepare his team for the rigors of the ACC. He said this is the toughest non-conference schedule his staff has put together in his time in Blacksburg.

He appeared on Virginia Tech’s “Tech Talk Live” Monday night from 7-8 p.m. to talk about his team.

“What’s going to get us to the national tournament is playing well in this great league of ours,” Hughes said.

The Hokies appeared in the national polls after their 4-0 opening weekend, which included wins against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams Kent State and UNC Wilmington. Hughes dismissed the importance of polls this early in the season.

“The polls to me this early don’t mean anything,” Hughes said. “It kind of legitimizes the program for the time being, but the challenge is to stay there. We want to be there at the end.”

Hughes declined to lock in his starting pitchers for the weekend, but did say there is a good chance Brad Markey pitches Friday, Devin Burke Saturday and Joe Mantiply Sunday.

Mantiply has missed his last two starts due to precautionary rest. He had stiffness in his forearm after his first start of the season.

“Brad Markey, he’s been a pleasant surprise; he’s been dominating,” Hughes said. “Devin Burke has been pitching the best baseball of his career.”

Markey pitched a complete game five-hitter on Saturday in a loss to Notre Dame, allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven. He is now 2-1 on the season with a 2.14 ERA.

“I came out of that game feeling really good about our club and specifically the ability of Brad Markey to pitch on the big stage,” Hughes said.

Tech faces a Georgia Tech team that is also balanced, led by their strong lineup. Hughes gave his thoughts on the Yellow Jackets during the radio show.

“The prototypical Georgia Tech team is very offensive and physical, and I’ll match our guys up against them any day, and we’ll do that on Friday,” Hughes said. “It’ll be curious to see how the pitching matches up and curious to see how the elements play in because sometimes it’s windy and the wind blows out at English Field and it could be high scoring.

“It’s going to be a good series, very similar teams. Georgia Tech is running a little more than they have in the past; they’re 21 of 25 on stolen bases. When you have a power threat and a running threat it makes for a really good offense. It’s going to be a fun weekend and I’m curious to see how our guys approach the weekend.”

The Hokies will face a big-time pitcher on Friday night in Buck Farmer. The 2013 preseason All-American and 2012 All-ACC First Teamer is one of the top arms in the 2013 MLB Draft. He is 2-0 this season with a 0.00 ERA in 21 innings.

“I think our kids have risen up to the challenge and we’ve played very well,” Hughes said. “We need to clean some things up heading into Georgia Tech, but you don’t have much time to get into ACC play and feeling right. Three weekends isn’t really ample enough time. I think we’re all set and ready to go.”

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Photo courtesy Brad Klodowski, SPPS

By Matt Jones, sports editor

Virginia Tech starting pitcher Joe Mantiply missed his scheduled start this weekend due to stiffness in his forearm.

Mantiply, the Hokies regular Friday starter in ACC play, was replaced with Eddie Campbell in the rotation on Saturday. Campbell went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five.

Pete Hughes commented on Mantiply’s injury Saturday following Tech’s 7-5 win over Holy Cross.

“We’re shutting (Mantiply) down,” Hughes said. “He was stiff in his forearm during his outing, and he’s such a competitive kid he’s not going to tell anyone that until late the next day. He didn’t feel good before his start. We’re just going to error on the side of caution with him and get him ready for ACC.”

In his first start of the season, Mantiply went four innings and allowed four earned runs on nine hits in a no decision against Kent State. The Hokies won the game 10-9.

Mantiply had some arm problems during the 2012 season but did not miss any time. He finished the season 5-6 with a 3.53 ERA.

Following the season, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted Mantiply in the 28th round. He elected to return for his senior season.

“There was talk, and it came down to the last week before the deadline and negotiations and money-wise just wasn’t there,” Mantiply said. “It wasn’t enough to take me away from my degree.”

The Danville, Va. native did not play over the summer.

“I didn’t throw, I took off and did kind of a arm care, arm strengthening program,” Mantiply said. “Just tried to get myself healthy for this season.”

Mantiply’s return is TBA at this point, forcing Hughes to give some innings to other potential starters like Campbell.

“In the mean time, it force feeds some innings to a guy like Eddie (Campbell) and maybe we can bring along his development for the year,” Hughes said.

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File 2012, SPPS

Brian and Jacob talk about the future of the Tech hoops program, the Nerlens Noel injury, and what Jadaveon Clowney should be doing his junior year in college. Please forgive the sniffles: it’s flu season.

Episode 4

Brian and Jacob talk about the struggle that is Tech basketball, the unusual season of college basketball, and the Hokies’ recruiting successes.

Episode 3

And they’re back.

Brian and Jacob are at it again, and this time they are talking Super Bowl. Enjoy this week’s edition of “The Unnamed Podcast” and, as always, come back next Tuesday for the newest episode.

Episode 2