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Hokies can't hold on in loss to South Carolina, 4-3
Duff hits a solo home run and Barnes allows only one run in 3.2 IP
March 8, 2017
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Virginia Tech (10-8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
 South Carolina (17-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| ||||||||||
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Despite holding a lead with three outs to go for the second-straight night and seeing another strong collective performance from its pitching staff, the Virginia Tech softball team could not hold against South Carolina on as the Hokies (10-8) fell to the Gamecocks (17-5), 4-3, on a walk-off base hit on Wednesday evening.
Starter Taylor Barnes tossed 3.2 innings and allowed only one run while freshman Carrie Eberle took the loss in relief to move to 4-3 on the season. Sophomore Lauren Duff went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. Tech has lost back-to-back games on walk-of hits and have dropped consecutive games for only the second time this season.
With one out in the top of the fourth, sophomore Olivia Lattin hit her first career triple into the right field corner that set up a fielder’s choice RBI from sophomore Emma Strouth that gave Tech a 1-0 lead.
The Gamecocks responded with a game-tying single in the home half of the fourth but another fielder’s choice RBI, this time from junior Breanna Davenport, scored redshirt sophomore Chelsea Whitcomb from third to put the Hokies back on top, 2-1 in the top of the fifth.
After entering the game in the fourth and recording the final out by way of the K, Eberle retired the side in the fifth. With one out in the top of the sixth, Duff made it 3-1 Hokies on a 3-2 pitch that she sent well over the left field fence for her third home run of the season.
South Carolina cut their deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly and eventually walked off on a seeing eye single through the left side.
Tech will have its home opening series this weekend against No. 2 Florida State. Friday’s game has a first pitch time of 7 p.m. from Tech Softball Park.
For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball
