No. 2 Virginia Tech vs. No. 3 The Citadel
First pitch: 2 p.m.
Carolina Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
Virginia Tech wins 4-3 to advance to tonight’s 7 p.m. region championship game against South Carolina.

POSTGAME
It wasn’t an ideal situation for Virginia Tech’s baseball team, but it pulled out a 4-3 win over The Citadel on Sunday to stay alive in NCAA Tournament regional play. The Hokies had to go to their bullpen earlier than desired, because of an injury to starter Jesse Hahn.

Hahn said he felt pain in his right forearm throughout his three innings of work, but he gutted it out. He felt he couldn’t go any further when he came out for the fourth. “I can’t throw another pitch,” he told Hokies coach Pete Hughes.

So Hughes had to go to his bullpen and throw Joe Mantiply, who would have been Tech’s starting pitcher Monday if the Hokies got that far.

It could have been worse. Mantiply threw 3 2/3 innings and allowed only two earned runs. And Hughes said there’s a possibility he could be available to pitch a few innings Monday if needed.

Mathew Price, who threw 17 pitches Saturday before leaving the game because of a lengthy rain delay, will start tonight’s game against the Gamecocks. He threw some warmup pitches today and told Hughes he felt good. Hughes said he could probably go seven innings if he feels up to it.

Hokies closer Ben Rowen pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his sixth save of the season. He said after the game he feels fine and he can probably go multiple innings tonight.

When Hughes was asked who he would start Monday if Tech advanced, he jokingly said, “Angela Tincher,” referring to the former Hokies’ star softball pitcher. Tech could use another arm, that’s for sure. Hughes said Monday would be an “all hands on deck” pitching situation.

UPDATE (Hokies leading 4-3 after eight innings)
*Virginia Tech starting pitcher Jesse Hahn left the game before the bottom of the fourth because of a strained right forearm. He was pitching well before leaving the game. He missed a month earlier this season with a sore right forearm.
*Hokies right fielder Austin Wates is 2-for-4 today with a double, triple and RBI. He is 12-for-23 in six postseason games.
*Tech left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie drove in another run in the sixth inning. He has eight RBIs in the last two games.
*Hokies freshman pitcher Joe Mantiply (Tunstall High) pitched well. He allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. He threw 75 pitches and struck out four. His longest relief outing of the season was four innings in a 10-0 loss to Maryland on March 12. Safe to say this was the biggest game of his young career, and he came through for the Hokies. He was pulled with two outs in the seventh, relieved by submarine closer Ben Rowen.
*Tech second baseman Michael Seaborn made a great diving grab of a Grant Richards liner in the seventh. The very next batter, third baseman Tony Balisteri misplayed William Ladd’s ground ball down the third base line. Ladd reached second on the error.
*Rowen allowed a single by right fielder Matt Simonelli on his very first pitch. Ladd scored to make it 4-3.
*There’s something about the Hokies that bring out the best in The Citadel’s pitchers. After No. 2 starter Matt Talley handled Tech’s lineup in Friday’s game, No. 3 starter Michael Clevinger threw really well today too. The freshman’s previous high for innings pitched was 7 1/3. He pitched 7 2/3 today and allowed only four runs to a lineup that tagged Bucknell for 16 Saturday. He left the game to an ovation from the smattering of Bulldogs fans here.
*Tim Smalling left briefly with an injury after diving for the ball in the seventh. He went to the dugout, where apparently he had his shoulder popped back in, and returned to the game.

UPDATE (Hokies lead 3-2 at the end of the fourth)
*Virginia Tech starting pitcher Jesse Hahn left the game before the bottom of the fourth after apparently injuring himself during warm-ups. That’s disastrous for the Hokies, who were hoping to save some bullpen arms. Joe Mantiply, the Hokies No. 4 starter, relieved Hahn in the fourth. Hahn’s final line: 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 Ks on only 35 pitches. He hit the 90s consistently. Fastest pitch registered 96 on the gun.
*Mantiply, a Danville native who starred at Tunstall High School, allowed a double to Bryan Altman, the second batter he faced, and Altman reached third on an error by left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie. The Hokies have now committed an error in their last 12 games.
*Altman scored on Justin Mackert’s fly ball single to centerfield. Grant Richards hit an RBI single to score Mackert, cutting Tech’s lead to 3-2.
*Sosnoskie hit a solo home run into The Citadel’s bullpen in right-centerfield in the second inning. It was his third home run in three straight at bats. He is 4 for his last 6 with three home runs and seven RBIs.
*Sean O’Brien (not to be mistaken with current Hokies centerfielder Sean Ryan) was the last Tech player to hit home runs in three consecutive at bats. He did it in a single game back on April 4, 2008.
*Tech right fielder Austin Wates hit an RBI triple in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to seven games. It was his fifth triple of the season.

PREGAME NOTES
*Virginia Tech 6-foot-5 righty Jesse Hahn (5-4, 3.86 ERA) gets the starting pitching nod in today’s first game. Hokies coach Pete Hughes will probably have him on a short leash if he starts to struggle. Hahn hasn’t made it out of the fourth inning in any of his last three starts. He allowed four earned runs in four innings pitched against N.C. State last Saturday in the ACC Tournament. In his last 18.2 innings (four starts), Hahn has allowed 17 earned runs (8.40 ERA).
*As far as his stuff goes, Hahn is the Hokies’ best starter. He’s rated one of the top prospects for the baseball draft, which begins Monday, but he’s a wild card because of his recent inconsistency.
*The Citadel is throwing No. 3 starter Michael Clevinger, a freshman. He’s been strong lately, going 2-0 with a 1.34 ERA in his last four appearances. His ERA is inflated thanks to two disastrous outings – seven earned runs May 2 at Samford and 10 earned runs March 6 at Hawaii.
*More on Buddy Sosnoskie’s big hitting day Saturday. His two home runs and six RBIs both tied Tech season highs. The six RBIs were a career high. It was also the first multi-homer game of his career.
*Tech first baseman Ronnie Shaban had four RBIs against the Bison. It was the fifth time he’s had four RBI in a game this season.
*Big question is, if the Hokies win this game, who will they pitch in the nightcap? Hughes said if Mathew Price, who threw only 17 pitches Saturday before being removed because of a rain delay, could go if he feels OK.
*Here are the lineups …

THE CITADEL (43-21)
1. CF Nick Orvin
2. DH Brad Felder
3. RF Matt Simonelli
4. 2B Bryan Altman
5. 1B Justin Mackert
6. SS Kyle Jordan
7. 3B David Greene
8. C Grant Richards
9. LF William Ladd
Pitcher: Michael Clevinger (5-2, 5.19 ERA)

VIRGINIA TECH (39-21)
1. CF Sean Ryan
2. 2B Michael Seaborn
3. C Steve Domecus
4. RF Austin Wates
5. 1B Ronnie Shaban
6. SS Tim Smalling
7. LF Buddy Sosnoskie
8. DH Andrew Rash
9. 3B Tony Balisteri
Pitcher: Jesse Hahn (5-4, 3.86)