Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – A back-and-forth contest through the first six frames, the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils used a three-run seventh and eighth to pull away from Virginia Tech and secure an 11-5 victory on Saturday afternoon at English Field at Union Park. With the win, the Blue Devils tied the ACC series and sets up a rubber match on Sunday.
After spotting the visitors three runs in the second, Tech (18-25, 8-15 ACC) responded with a JD Mundy solo home run in the home half and its own three-spot in the third to take a 4-3 lead.
For Mundy it was his sixth home run of the season, which ties for the team lead and is the 11th of his career. Notably, that's tied for the third most through a true sophomore season at the school (as a member of the ACC). His seven ACC home runs the past two seasons are the second most ever, only behind Ronnie Shaban, who hit eight during the 2009-10 seasons.
The third was highlighted by Sam Fragale's two-RBI double that plated Stevie Mangrum and Jack Owens, who both walked to open the frame. Fragale would later score on a Nick Menken sacrifice fly.
Duke (32-11, 14-8 ACC) scratched across a single run in both the fourth and fifth frames, with Zack Kone's solo home run in the fifth reclaiming the lead for the Blue Devils.
Tech responded as Fragale doubled with one out, which was followed by a walk and single that loaded the bases. Nick Owens placed a perfect bunt down for a successful squeeze play, scoring Fragale and tying the game once again.
However, Duke's bullpen silenced the Hokies down the stretch while the Blue Devils took advantage of four walks and an hit batsman in the seventh to score three runs and a Chris Proctor two-run home run highlighted the eighth as they cruised to the win.
As part of a 125 seasons of Virginia Tech baseball weekend celebration, more than 70 alumni were honored on the field pregame and stood with the team during the National Anthem. At 91-years young, Class of 1951's Clifton "Boogie" Davis tossed out the day's ceremonial first pitch.
Inside the Box
- Nic Enright – first start since March 10 (vs. Pittsburgh); one scoreless inning pitched, 22 for the season, 46 in his career; one perfect frame, 12 for the year, 22 in his career.
- Fragale – two doubles, 14 this year, 43 for his career; extended his hitting streak to a personal-best 14 straight games, which is also a team-long for the year; two hits, 15th multi-hit game of the season, 53rd of his career; two RBI, 12th multi-RBI game of season, 43rd of his career two runs, 10th multi-run scoring game of season, 29th of his career.
- Joe Freiday, Jr. – double, fifth of the season, 17th of his career.
- Dylan Hall – one scoreless inning pitched, 21 for the season, 25 in his career; one perfect frame, eight for the year, 12 in his career.
- Andrew McDonald – one scoreless inning pitched, 26 for the season, 80 in his career; one perfect frame, six for the year, 31 in his career; four strikeouts, 14th time this season, 32nnd time in his career, struck out at least two batters.
- Menken – two hits, 10th multi-hit game of the season.
- Mundy – home run, sixth of the year, 11th of his career;
- Tom Stoffel – single in the first extended his hitting streak to a personal-best nine straight games; it was also the 199th hit of his Tech career.
- Connor Yoder – one scoreless inning pitched, the first of his career; struck out two batters for the second time this season.
Up Next
- Tech will conclude its ACC weekend series against the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Sunday with the rubber match for the series. First pitch of Game 3 at English Field at Union Park is set for 1 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.