Hokies clinch series

BLACKSBURG — Just prior to Friday’s game, Virginia Tech’s baseball team was mathematically eliminated from playing in the ACC tournament.

Apparently, the message never reached the Hokie dugout.

Virginia Tech pounded out 14 singles and 15 hits in all to upset No. 10 Virginia 9-8 at English Field.

With the win, the Hokies (32-20, 12-16 ACC) claimed the series over the Cavaliers (38-12-1,15-11-1).

“It starts with starting pitching,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “You can’t fall behind 5-0 in the first two innings on the road and expect to win.

“When you pitch and play defense like we did, you have to have a spectacular day offensively to win.”

The Hokies, who were ousted from the postseason when Duke upset Georgia Tech earlier Friday, wasted little time jumping on Virginia starter Andrew Carraway. The right-handed pitcher allowed three runs in the opening frame as he labored, hurling 44 pitches.

“Andrew just didn’t have his best stuff today,” O’Connor said. “He was deep into his pitch count after two innings. You have to be better than that.”

Carraway (5-1), who also gave up two runs in the second, was eventually pulled after getting just one out in the third inning, making it the shortest start of his career.

The Cavaliers eventually scored three runs in the fourth, the last two of which came on back-to-back homers from Steven Proscia and John Hicks.

The deficit would not stay at two for long.

Virginia Tech plated four runs to take a 9-3 lead in the bottom-half of the inning off Virginia relievers Neal Davis and Robert Poutier.

The Cavaliers added two runs in the sixth inning, chasing Virginia Tech starter Justin Wright (7-2), but left two runners stranded in scoring position.

As was the case in Thursday’s 5-4 loss for Virginia, it was a recurring theme in a game that nearly lasted four hours.

Virginia left the bases loaded in the fifth and stranded another pair in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively, and went 6 for 22 with runners on base.

For the game, the Cavaliers left 13 runners on base.

Virginia did have a chance to mount its last rally in the ninth, but with runners at first and second, second baseman Phil Gosselin flied out to left-center field off submarine-style reilever Ben Mowen.

“He was not throwing very hard so he was not much help on hitting it that far. I just got under it too much,” Gosselin said. “It is frustrating as hell, but we have a chance to come back and win [today] and carry that momentum onto the ACC tournament.”

Virginia will look to sophomore RHP Robert Morey (2-0) today to salvage a game in the series. The contest is slated to start at 1 p.m.