BLACKSBURG, Va. - Coming off a difficult series at No. 14 Tennessee UNCG baseball was unfazed by the pedigree of their opponent on Tuesday, defeating No. 13 Virginia Tech 7-2. Corey Rosier finished with three knocks on the afternoon while starting catcher Dallas Callahan had a historic day behind the dish, throwing out four runners attempting to steal second. The Spartans now have two wins against top-25 opponents in 2021 and are an undefeated 2-0 when facing teams from the ACC.

The visitors struck first after leadoff man Corey Rosier collected his first knock in the first AB of the contest. The center fielder was pushed to third on a Hogan Windish hit by pitch and a Hokie throwing error, before coming home on the sac fly from David Flores.

The Hokies scored the tying run during the third, but neither team could muster up much offense through the first five innings, with both sides even at one going to the sixth.

Part of Virginia Tech's offensive struggles were contributed to by the performance of UNCG starting pitcher Brendan Collins. Through the first five innings Collins surrendered just two Hokie knocks. The Brunswick CC transfer gave up just a single in the opening frame and a double in the third, but it wouldn't be until the sixth that the home team was able to string a pair of hits together in a single frame. Collins finished his night at 5.2 IP while striking out three, giving up just four knocks in total and two earned runs. His season ERA now sits at 3.18 after shutting out North Carolina A&T in his five-inning start last Tuesday.

The Spartans opened things up in the sixth, hanging four runs on five hits. UNCG began the frame on four straight singles, with Dallas Callahan delivering a bases loaded single to score Pres Cavenaugh and Tom Grose and put the go-ahead runs on the board. Callahan and Zack Budzik pulled off the double steal to get into scoring position with the latter coming across on a wild pitch. Rosier's second single of the afternoon brought aboard Callahan and the Spartans opened up a 5-1 lead in the home half of the inning. 

Callahan had a big day not only in the box but behind the dish as well. Another transfer from Brunswick, the backstop threw out three potential base stealers during the first two innings of the night, throwing out a fourth in the seventh. His four runners thrown out is the most any Spartan has collected since Angels draft pick Cambric Moye gunned down three against Dayton back in 2013, and is the most any UNCG catcher has had in over 15 years. 

The Spartans added on runs in the two pursuing offensive frames, with Cavenaugh hitting the visiting bullpen on a solo shot to right field in the seventh. The redshirt freshman hit the first homer of his career at NC A&T last Tuesday and has since had a total of three in his past five appearances. 

Some heads up base running from Daniel Cerda helped manufacture UNCG's seventh and final run during the eighth. After drawing a walk, the shortstop advanced on a failed pickoff attempt, going all the way to third on an arid throw from the Tech pitcher. He would score on the ensuing at bat as Rosier collected his third hit of the night on an RBI single, giving the contest its final score of 7-2. 

>>> In addition to Rosier's three hits, Cavenaugh and Budzik each finished 2-for-4 at the plate while Callahan and Rosier each drove in a pair
>>> Collins earned his second win of 2021 to move his record to 2-0 on the year. He's earned a winning decision everytime he's thrown five-plus innings for UNCG this year
>>> UNCG remains undefeated against the ACC in 2021 after defeating NC State in the first midweek game of the year. They remain a perfect 4-0 in Tuesday games this season. The Spartans have not started a season with that good of a midweek record since 2018, when they earned wins against Oakland, Wake Forest, Elon and Winthrop

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