Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech's Connor Coward tossed a career-high 8.2 frames and, for the third time this season, struck out at least 11 batters. However, a ninth-inning solo home run by Louisville's Josh Stowers gave the visitors a one-run lead which they held on for to take the first game of the ACC series at English Field at Union Park Friday night by a count of 3-2.
Coward allowed a first-inning RBI single to the fourth batter of the night but then went on to retire 17 of the next 18 Cardinals including, at one point, 15 straight and faced one over the minimum from the second through the seventh. A one-out walk in the seventh was erased on a double play.
Meanwhile, Tech was held scoreless by Louisville starter Adam Wolf over the first four innings until the Hokies tagged him with two runs in the fifth. With one out, JD Mundy doubled and scored on Jack Owens' two-out RBI single and took second on the throw home.
Tom Stoffel, who had three hits in the game to push his career total to 190 at the school, knocked home Owens with a single to give Tech a 2-1 lead.
The Hokies (15-18, 6-10 ACC) had Wolf up against the wall in the sixth, as Nick Menken, Sam Fragale and Nick Owens all singled to open the frame. But Wolf sandwiched two strikeouts around a pop-up to right as Tech missed a chance to add some key insurance runs.
No. 21 Louisville (22-11, 7-9 ACC) used a leadoff infield single and a two-out bloop double to put the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position in the eighth. Jake Snider then grounded a ball to the left side and the ball was slightly misplayed but fired over to first to get the out. However, the Cardinals challenged the play and it was overturned, which gave the visitors the tying run before getting the game winner in the ninth.
Inside the Box
- Coward – fifth quality start of the season, eighth of his career; six scoreless innings pitched, a team-high 44 this season and 117 in his career; four were perfect, giving him 26 for the season, 52 in his career; career-high 8.2 innings pitched (previous high was 8.0, three times this season); 11 strikeouts, third time this season with at least 11 (two in ACC games); 67 strikeouts this season, a team-high, and a career-high for him in a season (had 59 last year), 184 in his career.
- Fragale – two hits, 10th multi-hit game of season, 48th of his career.
- Mundy – double, second of the season, 17th of his career.
- J. Owens – two hits, ninth multi-hit game of season, 33rd of his career.
- Stoffel – three hits, team-leading 14th multi-hit game of season, 52nd of his career; fifth game with at least three hits this season, 21st of his career; double, seventh of the season, 44th of his career.
Additional Notes
- Tech turned a double play in the game and now has 28 this season. It was the fourth this season turned behind Coward, the 12th in his career.
- With his performance, Coward becomes just the second Tech pitcher with two ACC outings with at least 11 strikeouts, joining Marc Zecchino (2011). The pair is also the only two pitchers (since the team joined the ACC, 2005) to have three overall games with at least 11 strikeouts as Zecchino also had three in 2011.
Up Next
- Tech and Louisville will play two games on Saturday – with the first one starting at 1 p.m. The second game, part of the Grand Opening of English Field at Union Park, will begin at 7 p.m. with pregame festivities starting approximately at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets
- For fans looking to attend any of the three games in the ACC series against Louisville – 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. Of note, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for those under 18 and is free for Tech students with a valid ID and children two and younger.