BLACKSBURG – Carrying a two-run lead into the eighth inning on Friday night, the No. 23 Virginia Tech baseball team missed its chance at fending off No. 7 Duke during the clubs' series opener as the Hokies ultimately played to the 9-8 defeat in 11 innings at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Virginia Tech (24-11, 11-8 ACC) received eight hits from its starting outfield corps of left fielder Chris Cannizzaro (2-for-5), center fielder Ben Watson (3-for-7) and right fielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. (3-for-4). Cannizzaro and Watson both produced two-RBI swings for the Hokies – Cannizzaro's coming during the first inning via one of his two doubles while Watson's plated the game-tying runs during the fifth inning with his single through the left side of the infield.
Sophomore catcher Henry Cooke's two-run home run during the bottom of the sixth inning stood tall for Tech as the potential game-winning hit, despite Duke (28-10, 12-7 ACC) rallying for solitary runs during the eighth, ninth and 11th innings. Logan Bravo and Ben Miller provided the home run swings that helped the Blue Devils force extra innings with Miller's denying closer Jordan Little a bid at his sixth save of the season.
Virginia Tech adjusted its weekend rotation on Friday for the first time during the 2024 campaign, electing to start experienced left-hander Jeremy Neff while moving rookie right-hand starter Ben Renfrow to Saturday. Neff was effective through his two innings pitched and left with the 2-1 lead, holding the visitors to a run on five hits while recording three strikeouts.
Duke starter Jonathan Santucci opened with back-to-back strikeouts of Christian Martin and Ben Watson, though could not put away Watson as his 2-2 strikeout pitch fooled catcher Alex Stone for a passed ball. After Carson DeMartini was pegged by a 1-1 pitch behind Watson, Cannizzaro found the gap with his two-RBI double to left center, supplying the hosts with the early, 2-0 advantage.
Despite loading the bases in the wake of Cannizzaro's double, Tech ended up stranding three runs – an omen to its trying day on the base paths. By game's end, the Hokies were responsible for leaving 18 runners on base, compared to the nine left behind by the Blue Devils.
UP NEXT
No. 23 Virginia Tech will host the middle game against No. 7 Duke on Saturday, April 20, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the Blue Devils is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Gallery: (4-19-2024) BSB: Duke Game 1