March 25, 2001

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech came from behind in back-to-back games to sweep a BIG EAST baseball double-header from No. 8 Notre Dame at English Field on Sunday. Tech scored three runs in its last at bat to win the seven-inning opener, 3-2. The Hokies then scored three times in the bottom of the eighth during the nine-inning nightcap for a 9-8 victory.

The double-header sweep was the first against Notre Dame in a BIG EAST series since 1997 when the Fighting Irish were swept in a twin bill by Seton Hall. The Irish had won 34 straight BIG EAST double-headers heading into Sunday's action. The sweep was Tech's first in a double-header against a Top 10 team since 1985 when the Hokies took a double-header at 10th-ranked South Carolina.

Notre Dame starting pitcher J.P. Gagne took a two-hit shutout into the bottom of the seventh inning of the opener. Tech third baseman Addison Bowman (Dayton, Va.) got the Hokies' rally started with a lead-off single and moved to second on a single by catcher Kevin Bice (Charlottesville, Va.). The Fighting Irish mishandled a bunt attempt by Tech center fielder Chris Hutchison (Newport, Va.) to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore right fielder Brad Bauder's single down the right field line tied the game. Sophomore second baseman Marc Tugwell (Springfield, Va.) won it with an RBI-single to right.

Junior right-hander Chip Runyon allowed Notre Dame two runs - one of which was unearned - in the third inning, then settled down and shut the Irish out over the final four innings. Runyon (Suffolk, Va.) struck out five and walked just one batter in posting his first decision of the season. Gagne fell to 0-2 with the loss.

There were no extra-base hits in the first game, but that changed rapidly in the nightcap. The two teams combined for 35 total hits, 17 for extra bases. Tech had seven doubles, a triple and a home run, while the Fighting Irish collected four doubles, a triple and three homers.

Tech (13-9; 6-1) enjoyed a 6-2 lead in the game after six innings, thanks in part to a pair of RBIs by catcher Jed English (Alexandria, Va.) and a two-run homer off the bat of shortstop Spencer Harris (Louisa, Ky.).

Notre Dame (16-4-1; 2-2) then staged a rally of its own, collecting two runs on four hits in the seventh inning and four runs on six hits in the eighth to take an 8-6 lead. Fighting Irish first baseman Kris Billmaier had a solo homer in each of the two innings.

The Hokies battled right back in the bottom of the eighth with left fielder Christian Simmers (Bridgewater, Va.) opening the stanza with a double and Bauder (Ashburn, Va.) following with a single that put runners at the corners. Simmers scored on a ground-out by first baseman John West (Thurmont, Md.), then Bauder came home with the tying run on a single by Bowman. With two outs, English delivered what proved to be the game-winning single to score Bowman.

In the top of the ninth, Simmers robbed Notre Dame shortstop Alec Porzel of a double with a diving catch along the left field line. After a single by Brian Stavisky, Tech reliever Seth Bandy (Pembroke, Va.) preserved the win by coaxing a game-ending double play.

Lefty Joe Saunders (Springfield, Va.), who pitched just two-thirds of an inning, collected the win for Tech, his fourth against two losses. Bandy pitched the ninth and earned his first save of the season.

Bowman, Tugwell and Hutchison each had three hits for Tech in the second game. Tugwell had two doubles, while Hutchison contributed a double and a triple. Simmers also had two doubles for the Hokies, while English finished with three runs batted in.

Tech's next game will be against VCU at The Diamond on Tuesday night at 7.

ND	002 000 0  -  2    7    1
VT	000 000 3  -  3    6    2
Gagne and O'Toole. Runyon and Bice. 
W- Runyon (1-0)  L- Gagne (0-2)
ND	101 000 240  -  8  16    0
VT	010 311 03x  -  9  19    1
Buchmeier, Naumann (5), Laird (6), 
Viloria (8) and Bushey, O'Toole (7).
Ostlund, Miller (8), Saunders (8), 
Bandy (9) and English. 
W- Saunders (4-2) L- Viloria (3-1) Sv- Bandy (1) 
HRs- Meyer (ND) 3rd, none on; Harris (VT) 4th, one on;
Billmaier (ND) 7th, none on; Billmaier (ND) 8th, none on.