Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech managed just five hits off of the No. 9 Duke pitching staff in a rubber match of the teams' ACC baseball series at English Field at Union Park as the Blue Devils won the series with a 7-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
All five hits for the Hokies went for singles and they also managed just one walk in the game. Jack Owens reached second on an error to start Tech's first, but was later picked off, while the Blue Devils turned a double play to end a second-inning threat.
Scoreless through three, Duke (33-11, 15-8 ACC) took control of the contest in the fourth, as the Blue Devils sent eight men to the plate and the first four all reached via a hit. Griffin Conine, who was 3-for-4 with three RBI, put the visitors up 1-0 with an RBI double and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Michael Smiciklas. Jack Labosky's home run gave Duke a 4-0 advantage.
In the fifth, Tech (18-26, 8-16 ACC) had its best chance to cut into the deficit as they had runners on the corners with two outs. However, Duke starter Ryan Day got a grounder to end the frame and the Hokies had just one baserunner the rest of the afternoon as Day and two relievers combined on the shutout.
Inside the Box
- Connor Coward - four scoreless innings pitched, 50 for the season, 123 in his career; one perfect frame, 28 for the year, 54 in his career; three strikeouts, a team-best 74 this season and 191 in his career; also went over 200 career innings pitched at Tech.
- Sam Fragale – went hitless, ending his personal-best and team-long hitting streak at 14 straight games.
- Tom Stoffel – went hitless, ending his personal-best nine-game hitting streak.
Up Next
- The Hokies will welcome VMI to English Field at Union Park on Tuesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. They will then head to Lynchburg on Wednesday for a game with the Liberty Flames, also scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.