SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The ninth-ranked Notre Dame baseball team dropped the series opener, 10-5, to Virginia Tech Friday afternoon at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish (12-5, 2-4 ACC) held the lead going into the ninth inning but the Hokies (14-6, 3-4 ACC) scored six in the inning to clinch the win.
How It Happened
Virginia Tech jumped out to an early lead after a solo home run in the second put the Hokies up 1-0. They added another run in the fourth after a triple and a ground out and the Hokies led 2-0 after four innings.
The lead did not last long as the Irish tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and a runner on second, Jack Brannigan hit a towering fly ball to left center field. The ball kept carrying until it bounced off the batter’s eye over the wall for a two-run homer. It was Brannigan’s third home run of the season and tied the game at 2-2.
Small ball got the lead back for the Hokies in the top of the fifth. With runners on the corners and one out, Nick Biddison dropped down a bunt in front of the plate that scored Conor Hartigan from third. The run gave the Hokies a 3-2 lead halfway through the game.
The see-saw of a game continued as the Irish took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Danny Neri led the inning off with a single and came home on the very next batter. Brooks Coetzee III ripped his team-leading sixth home run over the wall in left center to give the Irish the lead. After five full innings, Notre Dame held a 4-3 advantage.
Virginia Tech looked to tie the game in the top of the sixth with two runners in scoring position and no outs. John Michael Bertrand picked off the runner at second and induced a pop up that was caught by Carter Putz for the second out. Ryan McLinskey came on in relief and got a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Irish ahead.
The Irish added an insurance run in sixth as Zack Prajzner singled to left and scored Ryan Cole to put the Irish up 5-3.
The Hokies got within one as Jack Hurley hit his second home run of the game in the top of the eighth. They were threatening for more with the bases loaded and two outs but Aidan Tyrell came on in relief and forced a ground out to end the inning and keep the Irish ahead.
Virginia Tech tied the game in the ninth with a one-out double to the wall in right from Tanner Schobel. They added five more runs in the inning to take the lead and take control of the game.
Up Next
The Irish and Hokies will look to get back in action on Saturday for the second game of the series. Saturday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. ET first pitch and will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra. Admission is free for all fans this season at Frank Eck Stadium.
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