March 29, 2015
Walk-off for FSU spoils Hokies upset bid
Sean Keselica has three RBIs in 6-5 loss
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Virginia Tech (15-14) 102020000581
(7) Florida State (22-7) 000100302692
  • Dick Howser Stadium - 4,358

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In an attempt to be the first unranked ACC team to win a series at Florida State in five years, the Virginia Tech baseball team had a chance but the final play of the afternoon did not go the Hokies way and FSU got the 6-5 walk-off win Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Tech clinging to a 5-4 lead, Hokies’ pitcher Luke Scherzer got FSU’s Josh Delph to hit a weak grounder toward second. The problem, it was too weak and a charging Alex Perez had to hurry a throw to first, which was high, and two Seminoles ended up crossing the plate to give the home team the win.

The Hokies would have become the first team since, the Hokies, to win an ACC series at Florida State as an unranked team. Back in April 2010, Tech took a series in Tallahassee and since, only No. 12 Clemson in 2011 and No. 1 Virginia, last year, have been able to win an ACC series at FSU.

Perez got the Hokies offense going in the first, as he gave Tech a 1-0 lead with a two-out solo home run over the right field fence. It was the senior’s fourth long ball of the season, the fifth of his career.

Then in the third, Tech padded its lead to 3-0 when Sean Keselica drove home two with a bases-loaded single to right that plated Rahiem Cooper and Perez.

Florida State (22-7, 9-3 ACC) was held without a hit in the first three frames but a single sandwiched around a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. A sacrifice fly by Dylan Busby plated the Seminoles’ first run, but Tech starter Jon Woodcock got out of the jam with no more damage done.

Tech (15-14, 6-6 ACC) answered back in the top of the fifth with Perez, a single, and Brendon Hayden, a walk, both reaching base to start the frame. Perez moved to third on a wild pitch and scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Keselica.

For Perez, it was the 37th time this year he has crossed the plate, putting him into the ACC lead for runs scored. The Hokies weren’t done as Andrew Mogg doubled home Hayden to increase the visiting team’s advantage to 5-1.

The Seminoles got to Woodcock in the seventh. After tossing six strong innings, FSU got runners on first and second with one out and the Hokies went to their pen. Scherzer allowed three runs to score, but got a strikeout to end the seventh with the bases loaded and kept Tech ahead at 5-4.

He pitched a scoreless eighth before the Hokies had a chance to get an insurance run across. Cooper was hit by a pitch to start the ninth and Hayden got a one-out single to put two runners on, but they would be left stranded when FSU closer Billy Strode finished the frame with a pair of strikeouts.

The ninth started with a strikeout for Scherzer, but a walk, a single, a fly out to center and a hit batsmen loaded the bases for the final play of the game.

Strode picked up the win, his first of the year, while Scherzer took the loss and is now 1-2.

The Hokies will take a day off on Monday before getting back on the field Tuesday when they welcome VMI to Blacksburg for Military Appreciate Day at English Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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