BLACKSBURG – Dipping into extra innings on Saturday for the second consecutive night, the No. 23 Virginia Tech baseball team found a way to heroically outlast No. 7 Duke as the Hokies walked off the Blue Devils, 2-1, in 11 innings at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Junior second baseman Christian Martin was the champion of Tech's triumphant spoils for batting in the game-winning run, as only made possible by first baseman Logan Bravo dropping the inning-ending out – a routine throw from shortstop Wallace Clark. With David McCann scoring from third base on the error, the Hokies creatively completed their 11th inning theatrics without a hit or a ball leaving the infield, walking off an ACC opponent for the first time since April 2, 2021 (Boston College).
Virginia Tech (25-11, 12-8 ACC) was resilient on the mound as Brett Renfrow, David Shoemaker, Jacob Stretch and Grant Manning united to hold Duke (28-11, 12-8 ACC) to season lows in runs (one) and hits (four). From the fourth inning onward, Tech's pitching staff shut out the Blue Devils while surrendering one hit, combining for 10 strikeouts.
Renfrow was sharp through the duration of his six-inning start, assuring Duke did no further damage than Ben Miller's RBI double during the top of the third inning. Defensively, Renfrow fell into trouble during the first inning when he errantly tried picking off Clark at first base, though was bailed out by first baseman Ethan Gibson, who fielded the recovery and fired across the diamond to nab Clark advancing at third base.
Shoemaker relieved Renfrow at the start of the seventh inning, cuing a stellar pitching performance by Tech's bullpen. Together, the Hokies' trio of Shoemaker, Stretch and Manning combined to deal five scoreless, hitless innings while racking up eight strikeouts.
Eddie Micheletti Jr.'s leadoff double during the fourth inning set the table for Virginia Tech to find its equalizing run. Two batters after Carson DeMartini had beaten an infield single down the first base line to move Micheletti to third base, Henry Cooke lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Micheletti to tie the game at 1-1.
Fifth-year outfielder Ben Watson tallied two of the Hokies' six hits and reached base twice more via walks, boosting his season batting average to .394 and his on-base percentage to .447.
Duke left-hand starter Kyle Johnson lasted five and-one third innings, tying his career high for strikeouts (six). Ryan Higgins delivered three and one-third scoreless innings of relief, carrying the Blue Devils into extra innings.
Following Friday's 11-inning series opener, Saturday's game marked the first time Virginia Tech had contested consecutive extra-inning ballgames since March 2017 (doubleheader against Binghamton).
UP NEXT
No. 23 Virginia Tech will play for a critical ACC series win against No. 7 Duke during the weekend's rubber match on Sunday, April 21. First pitch between the Hokies and the Blue Devils is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Gallery: (4-20-2024) BSB: Duke Game 2