BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech (23-18) starting pitcher Ryan Kennedy (4-5) held VMI to no runs and just two hits over eight innings Wednesday night as the Hokies defeated the Keydets 8-0 at English Field.

VMI (22-23) fell behind 2-0 in the second inning and 4-0 after four as right fielder Matt Kalish drove in three of those runs for Virginia Tech, with two coming on first home run of the year.

Keydets' centerfielder B.T. Good (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) had both hits off of Kennedy and left fielder Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va. / Prince George) added a single in the ninth against Virginia Tech reliever Nickey Bowers.

VMI starter Jimmy Thoms (Newport News, Va. / Denbigh) (2-4) took the loss, giving up four runs in four innings.

The Keydets return to Patchin Field this weekend to face Charleston Southern in a Big South Conference series.

The first of three games is Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

-VMI-