No. 2 Virginia Tech vs. No. 4 Bucknell
First pitch: 2 p.m.
Carolina Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

UPDATE (Virginia Tech leads 16-7 through eight innings)
Here’s my last update. This game is getting out of hand. I don’t know if it will ever end.
*Brandon Fisher is the third reliever in the game for the Hokies. Manny Martir relieved starter Mathew Price. He pitched four innings and then Jake Joyce pitched two. None of these pitchers had seen action since the regular season-ending series against North Carolina. Martir hadn’t pitched in more than a month (May 4 vs. Davidson).
*Paid attendance for the first game was 4,302. There couldn’t have been more than 1,000 people here at first pitch, and there are significantly fewer fans here now after two lengthy rain delays.
*Lynchburg native Luke Padgett, who has had a limited role with the team since fouling a ball off his eye during preseason batting practice in 2008, saw his first ever postseason action in the eighth inning when he pinch ran for Andrew Rash. Padgett, who starred at Rustburg High School, didn’t get past first base.
*This game has been delayed a total of two hours and 21 minutes because of severe weather.
*Hokies left fielder Buddy Sosnoski hit a monster three-run home run over the right field wall in the eighth inning. He has two home runs today and six RBIs.
*Bucknell first baseman Doug Shribman hit a solo home run in the eighth. He has 21 home runs this season. He had only six round-trippers as a full time starter last year.

UPDATE (Virginia Tech leads 11-4 through five innings)
*It’s raining here again in Columbia, S.C. The players just ran off the field, meaning we’re in for another delay. Here are some more quick thoughts from the first five innings.
*Hokies right fielder Austin Wates had gone 36 straight games without an error before committing a miscue in the fifth inning of Saturday’s contest against Bucknell. His throwing error allowed the Bison’s first run to score.
*Tech has committed an error in 11 straight games.
*Manny Martir is getting knocked around now. The reliever, who spelled Mathew Price in the second inning, allowed four runs in the fifth. Bucknell catcher B.J. LaRosa hit a two-run home run over the short porch in right field to make it 11-4.
*Tech’s 11 runs ties a school scoring record for an NCAA Tournament game, matching the Hokies’ output in an 11-5 win over Siena in 1999 and an 11-10 win over Clemson in 1954.

UPDATE (Virginia Tech leads 10-0 through four innings)
*It might be hotter and more humid today at Carolina Stadium than yesterday. Water is being consumed at a record pace.
*We’ve already had a nearly two-hour rain/lightning delay. Looks like more severe weather is on the way, so this could be a marathon game, which is unfortunate considering the game is hardly competitive.
*The already sparse crowd has dwindled to a smattering of fans thanks to the delay. A baby sitting behind the backstop is crying so loudly it can be heard throughout the ballpark.
*Virginia Tech starting pitcher Mathew Price threw only one inning. He didn’t return after an hour and 44-minute rain/lighting delay. He didn’t need to. The Hokies led 5-0 with the rains came. By the time Manny Martir came out to pitch in the top of the second, Tech led 9-0.
*Martir has pitched three scoreless innings since taking over for Price. His best outing of the season, by the way, came against Liberty on March 24. He started that game and allowed four hits and no runs over seven innings in a 10-0 victory.
*Bucknell starter Trey Frahler did return to pitch the second, and he allowed all four baserunners he faced after the delay to reach base. He also allowed four more runs as the Hokies took control of the game.
*An error on Bucknell shortstop Ben Allen opened things up for a big first inning for the Hokies. With two on and one out, Austin Wates hit a weak grounder to Allen that seemed destined to be the start of a double play, but Allen bobbled the ball and everybody was safe. Tech first baseman Ronnie Shaban followed with a two-RBI single. Wates scored on a passed ball Buddie Sosnoskie hit an RBI single, and Andrew Rash made it 5-0 with an RBI sacrifice fly.
*Tech first baseman Ronnie Shaban is 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and four RBIs. Shortstop Tim Smalling is 2-for-2 with two singles, two RBIs and a run scored.
*Hokies right fielder Austin Wates extended his hitting streak to six games with an RBI-double in the fourth. He has also scored twice today.

PREGAME NOTES
For free audio and video of today’s game, go to Virginia Tech’s Web site. The link is on the upper right side of the home page.

Both Virginia Tech (38-21) and Bucknell (25-34) are in must-win situations. The Hokies fell to The Citadel on Friday, and Bucknell lost the nightcap to South Carolina. The loser of today’s game at Carolina Stadium goes home. The winner plays the loser of tonight’s game between South Carolina and The Citadel at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Bison finished fourth in the Patriot League’s regular season standings, but they won the conference tournament to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Bucknell is located in Lewisburg, Pa., about an hour and a half west of Scranton.

The Bison are 1-9 all time in NCAA Tournament regional play with the only win coming two years ago against Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. FSU was ranked fourth nationally heading into that game.

Virginia Tech and Bucknell played last February, with the Hokies prevailing 2-1 in Blacksburg. Today’s Bucknell pitcher, Trey Frahler, pitched in that previous meeting with the Hokies. He allowed six hits and two runs in seven innings.

Bison first baseman Doug Shribman has 20 home runs this season, a drastic climb from his six dingers last year. He broke the Patriot League Tournament record this season with seven home runs in six games. He nearly doubled the previous PL Tournament record with 16 RBIs.

Hokies outfielder Austin Wates has hit safely in five straight games. He has not committed an error in his last 36 games.

Virginia Tech has committed at least one error in 10 straight games.

LINEUPS
VIRGINIA TECH
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: Mathew Price (7-3, 4.59 ERA)

BUCKNELL
1. SS Ben Allen
2. C B.J. LaRosa
3. 2B Ben Yoder
4. RF Andrew Brouse
5. 1B Doug Shribman
6. CF Bob Donato
7. LF Drew Constable
8. DH Scott Reed
9. 3B David Duffett
Pitcher: Trey Frahler (4-6, 6.53 ERA)