May 20, 2016
Hokies fall in heartbreaker at No. 9 Virginia
Tech held three-run lead late, but Cavaliers get walk-off 7-6 win
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Virginia Tech (19-35) 300000021673
(9) Virginia (35-18) 0010001417130
  • Davenport Field - 3,759

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia Tech starting pitcher Packy Naughton turned in a quality start, Hokie third baseman Sam Fragale drove in three runs, including the second of back-to-back home runs in the eighth that gave Tech a 5-2 lead, however No. 9 Virginia battled back and registered a 7-6 walk-off victory in ACC baseball action on Friday afternoon at Davenport Field.

Fragale drove in two runs in the first as Tech staked a 3-0 lead, and after Virginia cut its deficit to one, Nick Anderson and Fragale went back-to-back to make it a three-run contest.

The Cavaliers got to Tech’s bullpen, plating four runs in the home half of the eighth inning to take a 6-5 lead before Tom Stoffel’s RBI double in the top of the ninth, which scored Rahiem Cooper, tied the game at six.

Naughton did not factor in the decision after scattering eight hits and a walk. He allowed just two earned runs and struck out three. Tommy Doyle (2-5) picked up the win for Virginia, while Cole Kragel (2-4) suffered the loss.

How the runs were scored

  • Virginia Tech (19-35, 6-23 ACC) used four walks in the first inning, the fourth by Anderson that plated Saige Jenco, to put the first run on the board and Fragale followed with a two-RBI single to put the Hokies up 3-0.
  • Virginia (35-18, 18-11 ACC) scored single runs in the third and the seventh to pull to within a run. Matt Thaiss singled home Ernie Clement for the first run and then doubled home Clement for the second.
  • Anderson and Fragale's back-to-back home runs pushed Tech’s lead back to three. It was the first time Tech went back-to-back in an ACC game since March 17, 2012 at Georgia Tech (Jake Atwell and Mark Zagunis).
  • The Cavaliers used a two-run home run by Charlie Cody and a sacrifice fly by Clement to tie the game before a Hokie error allowed a the go-ahead run to score.
  • The Hokies answered back with Cooper hitting a leadoff double and coming home on Stoffel’s two-out RBI double.
  • Virginia won the game by loading the bases with one out and then Jack Gerstenmaier drew a walk for the game winner.

Inside the box score

  • Jenco: stolen base, 12th of the season, 42nd of his career; 2 walks, leads team with 41 and has 103 in his Tech career; run, 34th of the season, the 101st of his Tech career.
  • Stoffel: 2 walks, third time this season with two; double, 14th of the season, 16th of his career.
  • Sciretta: run, team-high tying 39th of the season.
  • Anderson: home run, fourth of the season and his career; 2 RBIs, seventh multi-RBI game of the season and career.
  • Fragale: home run, team-leading seventh of the season, eighth of his career; double, 13th of the season, 15th of his career; 2 hits, 12th multi-hit game of the season, 16th of his career; 3 RBIs, 11th multi-RBI game of the season, 12th of his career, sixth time with at least 3 RBIs this season, seventh in his career.
  • Cooper: double, fourth of the season, seventh of his career.
  • Naughton: quality start, fifth of the season, eighth of his career; 119 pitches, a season and career high; 7.0 innings, third time this season, fourth time in his career has pitched at least 7.0.

Up next

Tech’s final game of the season is set for Saturday at Davenport Field with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter

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