Tech falls short in Sunday ninth-inning, comeback effort

Luke Horanski with two hits and two RBI to lead the Hokies at the plate

April 22, 2018

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Looking for its first ACC road series win since 2014, Virginia Tech baseball held an early 3-2 lead, but Notre Dame answered with four runs in the middle frames, then held on for a 6-5 victory in the final game of the three-game ACC series at Frank Eck Stadium Sunday afternoon to win the series.

In the top of the ninth, the Hokies trailed by three, but pinch-hitter Cam Irvine reached on an error and Jack Owens followed with a double to bring the tying run to the plate. Luke Horanski would plate Irvine with a grounder and, with two outs, Sam Fragale singled home Owens to make it a one-run game, but Irish closer Andrew Belcik got the final out to end the game.

Tech (17-23, 7-14 ACC) erased an early two-run deficit with a three-spot in the third as the Hokies sent nine men to the plate. Michael Fernandez and Stevie Mangrum started the inning with back-to-back walks before Zach Kokoska singled home Fernandez for the Hokies’ first run.

After a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Jack Owens, Tom Stoffel and Horanski each notched an RBI single to left to put the Hokies on top 3-2.

Notre Dame (17-23, 8-13 ACC) answered back in the fifth, scoring three runs all with two outs. Back-to-back home runs by Nick Podkul and Matt Vierling turned the Irish’s one-run deficit into a one-run lead.

Spencer Myers added an RBI single in the fifth before Podkul picked up his second RBI of the game with a single in the sixth that finished off the game’s scoring for the home team.

Inside the Box

• Fragale – singled in the ninth, extending his hitting streak to a season-long 11 straight games, which also ties the team-high for the year.
• Horanski – two hits, 12th multi-hit game of the season; two RBI, ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
• Kokoska – first collegiate start; two hits, first multi-hit game of his career.
• Andrew McDonald – two scoreless innings pitched, 24 for the season, 78 in his career.
• J. Owens – double, sixth of the season, 22nd of his career; caught stealing in the first, first time this season – is now 10-for-11 this season;
• Luke Scherzer – four innings pitched, pushing career total at Tech to 102.0; second longest outing of his career – 5.0 innings versus Georgia Tech (April 5, 2010); three scoreless frames, a team-high 12 for the season, 65 in his career; one was perfect, four this year, 22 in his career; three strikeouts, 11 this season, 92 in his career.

Up Next

• The Hokies return to campus before heading back out on the road Wednesday, traveling to Lexington, Virginia to face VMI with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. This upcoming weekend, Tech will welcome nationally ranked Duke to English Field at Union Park for a three-game ACC weekend series starting Friday at 6 p.m.

Tickets

• For fans looking to attend any of the three games in the ACC series against Duke – or any of Tech’s upcoming ACC contests, please be aware tickets are required for all ACC games at English Field at Union Park. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets in advance.

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