Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Looking to salvage a ranked victory on Sunday from its top-25 ACC home series, the No. 25 Virginia Tech baseball team battled No. 9 Florida State through a competitive series finale, despite having to settle for the 4-2 defeat at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Junior leadoff man Jared Davis batted 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI to lead Virginia Tech (23-13, 9-9 ACC), which had witnessed its streak of three straight ACC series victories come to an end during Saturday’s series-opening doubleheader. Henry Cooke went 2-for-4 with a double from the Hokies’ cleanup spot while Clay Grady tripled to set up a run during the bottom of the seventh inning.
Virginia Tech put together its best start of the series during Sunday’s first inning, receiving back-to-back leadoff singles by Davis and Ben Watson – the latter of which sent Davis to third base. Working an eight-pitch at-bat against FSU starter Wes Mendes, Sam Tackett plated the game’s opening run with his deep, opposite-field sacrifice fly, scoring Davis to provide the Hokies with their first lead of the weekend.
Despite striking first, Virginia Tech left more to be desired during the bottom of the first inning. After a balk by Mendes had pushed two runners into scoring position with one out, the Hokies were unable to scratch across more offense, ultimately stranding the bases loaded.
Freshman right-hand starter Logan Eisenreich shut out Florida State (28-7, 11-4 ACC) through three innings before the Seminoles managed to dig into him during the top of the fourth inning. On two pitches, Eisenreich allowed a leadoff single to Max Williams and a ground-rule double to Myles Bailey, ultimately departing after issuing a six-pitch walk to Drew Faurot that loaded the bases.
In relief of Eisenreich, Grant Manning cooled off the Seminoles by picking up three straight inning-ending outs – unfortunately one at the expense of tying the game. Chase Williams rode a 3-1 pitch from Manning deep to center field, allowing Max Williams to tag, score and knot the game at 1-1.
Manning nearly worked himself out of a jam during the fifth inning, battling back after allowing leadoff singles to Faurot and Cal Fisher. However, facing two runners in scoring position with two outs, Manning’s first pitch to Bailey during the ensuing at-bat sailed high, scoring Hunter Carns for the Seminoles’ go-ahead run.
Florida State doubled its lead during the top of the sixth inning after Davis dove short of a line drive by Chase Williams in center field, allowing the ball to bounce behind him for an RBI triple. Two pitches later, Brody DeLamielleure brought in Williams with his sacrifice fly hit to the same part of the ballpark.
Virginia Tech slid within 4-2 during the seventh inning when Grady legged out a clean triple against Peyton Prescott, who pitched the final three and one-third innings for the Seminoles. Davis grounded in Grady while Tackett’s two-out double down the left field line went unanswered.
Cameron LeJeune posted two scoreless frames for the Hokies, who produced the potential game-tying run again during the bottom of the ninth inning.