ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 2, 1994                   TAG: 9404020158
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


VCU ROUTS TECH 16-7 IN BASEBALL

Erik Sauve drove in seven runs and scored four as Virginia Commonwealth routed Virginia Tech 16-7 in a Metro Conference baseball game Friday at Blacksburg.

VCU (18-8 overall, 3-1 Metro) got started early when Sauve slammed a two-run homer in the first inning.

Tech's Popeye Smith smacked a solo homer in the bottom of the first to make it 2-1. That was as close as the Hokies (10-14, 2-4) would come as the Rams scored five runs in the second.

Buff Hockman went the distance for VCU, scattering eight hits and striking out five. Brian Young took the loss. Tech's hitting was led by Kris Turberville with a triple and two singles.

In other sports in the region:

Kenny Wagner took the Late Model Stock Car pole in qualifying at Franklin County Speedway, earning a $250 prize. Wagner drove the lap in 14.33 seconds, a time later equaled by defending track champion Dudley Lawhorn, who will start on the outside.

The Crossroads Mall/AMBA 300 will begin at 6 tonight. Gates open at noon, and qualifying for the other classes begins at 4:30. Admission is $5 for adults, no charge for children 10 and under.

Bigger, better and more in '94 is the theme for the New River Valley Speedway racing season, which officially opens tonight in Radford. There will be bigger races, better competition and more racing than ever before at the .416-mile NASCAR-sanctioned paved oval.

All five divisions of competition will be in action tonight, with the Late Model Stock Cars featured in a 100-lap event. The Limited drivers will race for 35 laps, and the Modified Mini, Mini and Pure Stock drivers will each see 25 laps of action.

There will be 25 regular events, with the second 250-lap Late Model Stock Car race closing the schedule. Three regular-season races are scheduled on Sunday afternoons. They will follow Saturday night Winston Cup events at Charlotte, N.C.; Bristol, Tenn.; and Richmond.

One of the highlights of a season that includes four 200-lap races and twin 75s will be WDBJ's live telecast of the July 30 twin 100-lap events.

Admission has been increased from $8 to $10 for adults. Children 12 and younger still will be admitted for $1.

"We will be having more big races this season than ever. So instead of increasing the prices for special races, I decided on a slight increase for all events," track promoter Ronnie Snoddy said.

Gates open at 2 p.m., with practice at 4 p.m. Qualifying gets under way at 6:15 p.m., with the first green flag falling at 8 p.m.

In Miami, K.J. Hippensteel of Roanoke finished third in the boys' 14-and-under division of the U.S. Tennis Association's Easter Bowl tournament. Hippensteel defeated Nicholas Boeker of Miami 6-3, 7-5 on Friday in the third-place match of the prestigious tournament.



 by CNB