Virginia Tech falls 7-6 to NC State despite late lead

GAME 2 | NC State 7, No. 15 Virginia Tech 6
RALEIGH, N.C. --The No. 15 Virginia Tech Hokies took a 5-4 lead into the seventh inning, but could not hang on and fell 7-6 to the NC State Wolf Pack Sunday.

Senior Jaison Heard (3-3) took the loss on the mound for Virginia Tech (21-15, 15-12). Sophomore Graham Firoved was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out two.

Freshman Tanner Schobel led the way offensively for the Hokies, going 2-for-5 in the ballgame with two home runs and two RBIs. Sophomore Nick Biddison put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and two RBIs. Freshman TJ Rumfield also helped out, going 2-for-5 for Virginia Tech with a double and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hokies got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Virginia Tech scored twice in the inning on back-to-back run-scoring doubles from freshman Cade Swisher and Biddison.

The Wolf Pack then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Hokies expanded their advantage in the third. Virginia Tech picked up a run on Schobel's one-out solo home run off of freshman Matt Willadsen, which brought the Hokies lead to 3-1.

NC State narrowed Virginia Tech's lead to 3-2 before the Hokies stretched the advantage to 4-2 in the fourth inning. The Hokies notched a run on Biddison's two-out RBI double.

The Wolf Pack gained ground, closing the gap to 4-3 until Virginia Tech added some insurance in the fifth. The Hokies notched a run on Rumfield's two-out RBI double, bringing the score to 5-3 in favor of Virginia Tech.

NC State then mounted a comeback, taking a 7-5 lead heading into the ninth, when the Hokies cut that deficit to 7-6. Virginia Tech picked up a run on Schobel's one-out solo home run off of junior Evan Justice. The ballgame ended with that ninth inning rally falling short.

GAME NOTES
» Virginia Tech got a two-homer day from Schobel.
» Biddison led the Hokies, picking up three base knocks in the ballgame.
» Virginia Tech got multiple extra-base hits from both Biddison and Schobel.
» Virginia Tech's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed two runs across.
» Four Virginia Tech hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Virginia Tech pitchers faced 38 NC State hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» Schobel led the Hokies at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBIs.
» NC State was led offensively by freshman Jose Torres, who went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a triple and two RBIs.
» Justice led the Wolf Pack pitching staff, throwing three innings of one-run ball.

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