Hokies drop walk-off loss to Syracuse, 3-2

Duff homers, Eberle allows two earned runs in 6.1 innings

April 28, 2017

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (19-32)	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	2	1
Syracuse (28-18)	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	3	5	2
Skytop Stadium - 140 Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Despite another strong performance in the circle from freshman Carrie Eberle, who allowed only two earned runs and struck out four in 6.1 innings of work, the Virginia Tech softball team could not take the series opener from Syracuse as the Orange walked off with a 3-2 win on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore Lauren Duff went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and threw out her 16th runner on the basepaths for the Hokies (19-32, 5-17 ACC). Eberle’s two earned runs allowed against Syracuse were the first in her last 20.1 innings pitched.

With the Hokies trailing 2-0 entering the top of the fourth, Duff launched a one-out solo home run off the scoreboard in left field, her second homer of the week and seventh of the season, that cut Tech’s deficit to one, 2-1.

The next batter was sophomore Emma Strouth who rocketed a 1-0 pitch to the right center field gap for her ninth double of the season. A ground ball off the bat of junior Caroline Schoenewald followed but it was bobbled by the shortstop, allowing Strouth to advance to third. Junior Jessie Mehr then stepped to the plate and sent a fly ball deep to the warning track in center that was caught but was able to push across the game-tying run.

Eberle responded by continuing to keep the Orange hitters off balance. She retired six in a row through the fourth and fifth innings and, in the bottom of the sixth, escaped a second and third, no-out situation that kept it a 2-2 game. It wouldn’t be enough though as Syracuse rallied in the bottom seventh and plated the game-winning run on an RBI single.

First pitch time for game two of the three-game series between the Hokies and Orange is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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