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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Facing the fourth ranked team in the nation, Virginia Tech baseball had its chances, but could not come through and the Florida State Seminoles were able to post a 5-2 victory on Friday night in the first game of a three-game ACC series at Dick Howser Stadium.
With the win, Florida State improved to 22-4 overall and 9-1 in the ACC, while the Hokies are now 18-10, 2-8 in the conference.
Thanks to Seminole James Ramsey, Florida State took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a sac fly from the centerfielder, scoring Sherman Johnson, who extended his streak of reaching base to all 26 games played this season and the only time he reached base in the game.
In the third, Ramsey doubled home Devon Travis and then scored on a single by Jayce Boyd and the home team was up 3-0.
The Hokies had their chances all game long, but what plagued them in the Duke series – 1-for-22 with runners in scoring position – hurt them early in this game as well. After putting runners on the corners with one out in the first, neither of the next two batters could drive in a run.
In the fourth, Tech loaded the bases with no outs on a hit batter (Johnny Morales), a single (Andrew Rash) and an error on a sac bunt (Kyle Wernicki). However, Florida State starter Brandon Leibrandt was able to get a strikeout, a fielder’s choice out at the plate and another strikeout to end the threat.
In the sixth, Morales led off with a double, but was also left stranded.
Then the game was delayed for 42 minutes by rain.
FSU would add single insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Hokies plated their first run of the game in the top of the eighth thanks to a two-out pinch-hit RBI single off the bat of Brendon Hayden, which scored Morales, who reached base for the third time in the game with a single of his own.
They added another run in the ninth when pinch hitter Sean Keselica, who singled to lead off the frame and stole second, scored on an error on the Seminole shortstop.
Leibrandt picked up the win and improved to 3-1, while Joe Mantiply suffered the loss and is now 3-2.
The two teams will continue the three-game ACC series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).