BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech baseball lost Game 1 of the three-game series against Florida State on Friday, 6-4, after a late home run from the Seminoles.
The Hokies (8-4, 4-3 ACC) lost to the Seminoles (5-5, 3-4) in the first matchup since 2019.
Peyton Alford (0-0) got the start for the Hokies, his third start of the season. He tied his career strikeout total at 10 strikeouts on Friday and pitched 5.2 strong innings.
The Hokies scored three runs on seven hits, including home runs from Gavin Cross and Kevin Madden, Cross' third home run of the season and Madden's first.
THE GAME
The Hokies posted two runs in the bottom of the first inning from Cross and a fielding error from the 'Noles. Both pitchers dominated the mound until the bottom of the sixth when Fritz Genther had a sacrifice fly to score the third run.
Jaison Heard relieved Alford in the top of the fifth and struck out his first batter. Florida State scored runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, but a late inning homer from the Seminoles pushed them to the lead.
Madden hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning followed by a double from Tanner Thomas.
Tech's pitching staff threw 13 strikeouts, only allowing four earned runs and one walk.
NOTES
- Cross' two hits in Game 1 mark the 13th time in his career with a multi-hit game.
- Alford has now thrown two games this season with 10 strikeouts, also being his career high.
- Madden's home run was the seventh of his career and his second home run against Florida State.
UP NEXT
Tech will play Florida State on Saturday to continue the three-game series with Game 2 of the series starting at 3 p.m.
Gallery: (3-12-2021) 2021 BASEBALL vs. FLORIDA STATE FRIDAY