PITTSBURGH – With junior outfielder Jack Hurley batting in its four runs off two home run swings on Friday, the Virginia Tech baseball team held a late, 4-3 lead at Pitt despite the Hokies succumbing to the Panthers' game-winning rally during the seventh inning and dropping the series opener, 5-4, at Charles L. Cost Field.
Making his fourth collegiate appearance in his home state, Hurley set a season high for RBIs (four), accounting for three of Tech's eight hits while registering his fourth career multi-homer game. The Boalsburg native put the Hokies ahead, 3-0, during the top of the first inning with his three-run bomb to center field, later providing the leadoff solo homer that broke the game's 3-3 tie during the top of the sixth inning.
Friday's outcome marked the fourth time during its last five ACC defeats during which Virginia Tech (13-8, 1-6 ACC) had carried a lead into the sixth inning. The Hokies were kept hitless by Pitt (10-9, 2-3 ACC) in the aftermath of Hurley's second home run, though twice placed Christian Martin into scoring position during the game's late innings.
For the first time during his Tech career, sophomore right-hander Drue Hackenberg was handed the ball to start a series-opening game for the Hokies. Hackenberg battled back after allowing the first six Panthers to reach base during the first inning – resulting in Pitt's three game-tying runs – retiring 20 of the next 24 batters he faced while positing nine strikeouts.
With Sky Duff aboard as a two-out base runner during the bottom of the seventh inning, Noah Martinez kept the inning alive for the Panthers, cracking his third hit off Hackenberg. Jack Anderson followed by knocking the game-tying RBI single into right field, inducing Hackenberg's exit while moving Martinez over to third base.
Facing runners at the corners, Brady Kirtner entered and proceeded to walk both AJ Nessler and Justin Acal, allowing Pitt to push the go-ahead run across.
Virginia Tech's best scoring chance came during the top of the second inning when leadoff singles by Garrett Michel, Gehrig Ebel and Clay Grady loaded the bases with no outs. However, the Hokies' rally was squashed by the Panthers' right-hand starter, Jack Sokol, who bounced back by striking out the top three hitters of Tech's lineup in order without conceding a run.
Tech caught an additional break during the top of the ninth inning when Martin's potential game-ending pop-up to the left side was dropped by shortstop Tommy Taverez. Despite the two-base error, Martin was left stranded as Chris Cannizzaro grounded out to end the game during the ensuing at-bat.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will look to even this weekend's ACC series against Pitt on Saturday, March 25. First pitch between the Hokies and the Panthers at Charles L. Cost Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.