BLACKSBURG – Despite Eddie Micheletti Jr.'s go-ahead grand slam during the bottom of the third inning on Friday night, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team was one big inning away from holding off No. 21 Wake Forest and revered starter Chase Burns, who boxed the Hokies into their 8-5 defeat at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Micheletti had Burns timed perfectly during his second chance facing the right-hander, hammering his 3-1 pitch to right center field to deliver Tech the early, 5-3 lead. Landing 405 feet from home plate, Micheletti's second grand slam of the season – his 10th home run overall – punished Burns for two earlier walks during the inning (one intentional) as well as a softly hit single by shortstop Clay Grady.
Virginia Tech (21-6, 10-3 ACC) witnessed its lead unravel during the top of the fourth inning when Wake Forest (19-10, 5-8 ACC) rallied for five runs on three hits, twice sending the Hokies into their bullpen.
Tech starter Brett Renfrow had been responsible for solo home runs by Nick Kurtz and Jake Reinisch during the top of the second inning that put him behind, 3-1. Renfrow ended up topping out at 85 pitches and three and one-third innings pitched, exiting after allowing the tying runs to reach base for the Demon Deacons.
With right-hand reliever David Shoemaker in for Renfrow, Marek Houston batted in Cameron Gill with his RBI single to center field while Ben Watson's errant fielding allowed Cam Nelson to travel an extra 90 feet to third base. Adam Tellier proceeded to lift the game-tying sacrifice fly to right field as the second out of the inning, scoring Nelson while leveling the affair at 5-5.
Needing one out to retire the side, Shoemaker worked 1-2 counts against Kurtz and Jack Winnay, though was unable to pack up the inning for the Hokies. Kurtz drew the two-out walk that put runners on first and second base for Winnay, who doubled in both runners with his two-RBI shot down the left field line.
Reinisch matched Winnay with an RBI double hit to a similar part of the ballpark, reinstating the lead for Burns and Wake Forest.
Burns ultimately struck out 15 Virginia Tech batters through seven complete innings, improving to 6-1 this season with the victory. After surrendering the grand slam to Micheletti, he managed to strike out seven of the next eight Hokies he faced, holding Tech hitless after the third inning.
Virginia Tech had its best chance at evening the game during the bottom of the eighth inning when David Falco Jr. issued consecutive walks to Chris Cannizzaro and Micheletti, though the Hokies were unable to cash in against the right-hander.
Carson DeMartini tripled off Burns during the bottom of the first inning when Nelson lost the ball in the Blacksburg sky, bouncing away from the Demon Deacons for a three-base hit. DeMartini soon came home on a wild pitch – a run Wake Forest answered during the second inning after Renfrow had given up three walks.
Friday's series opener was delayed 31 minutes to 7:33 p.m. by rainy conditions.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will play to even its series against No. 21 Wake Forest on Saturday, April 6. First pitch between the Hokies and the Demon Deacons is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Gallery: (4-5-2024) BSB: Wake Forest Game 1