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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 21, 1994                   TAG: 9405210069
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY.                                LENGTH: Short

HOKIES DO IT AGAIN

Virginia Tech pulled off its third consecutive upset at the Metro Conference baseball tournament, bumping off top-seeded UNC Charlotte 4-1 on Friday night.

The Hokies (31-23) rode a sterling pitching effort by left-hander Rob Gibson of Salem to a spot in the tournament's championship round.

Gibson (4-2) handcuffed the 49ers on one hit through 8 1/3 innings, striking out nine and walking three. The only UNC Charlotte hit came in the first inning. Reliever Charlie Gillian got two outs in the ninth to end the game.

"That was the best performance of my life," Gibson said. "I threw harder in the eighth and ninth than I did in the first inning. I started getting better bite on my curve as the game went along."

Tech has beaten third-seeded South Florida, second-seeded Southern Mississippi and the top seed on successive days.

The Hokies scored four runs in the third inning. Popeye Smith led off with a walk and scored on Justin Dobson's triple. Two runs scored on Josh Herman's double.

by CNB