Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Virginia Tech
Deacs Drop Series with 5-3 Loss at No. 22 Virginia Tech
5/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 17, 2013
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By Steven Wright, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
BLACKSBURG, Va. - No. 22 Virginia Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead and held on in the ninth to defeat Wake Forest 5-3 on Friday night at English Field.
The loss drops the Demon Deacons to 28-27 overall and 9-20 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia Tech is now 35-19, 15-14 ACC.
Justin Van Grouw made the start for Wake Forest and put together a great performance, going 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits. He also struck out four batters in the outing, while earning a no decision.
Mark Rhine reached base four times in the game by going 2-for-3 with two walks a double and a run scored. Evan Stephens and Jack Carey both recorded two hits, as well, while Pat Blair, Charlie Morgan and Conor Keniry had one hit apiece. Carey was the only other Deacon with an extra-base hit, as he doubled in the sixth.
Jack Joyce earned the win in 2.0 innings of relief to move to 7-1 on the year, while Clark Labitan picked up the save by getting the final out of the game. Niko Spezial suffered his first loss of the season to move to 6-1.
Starter Devin Burke was perfect for Virginia Tech through the first three 3.1 innings before Rhine doubled down the left field line to account for the Deacs' first base runner of the game. Wake Forest was not able to score in that inning, but the Hokies took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the inning 1-0 on an RBI by Mark Zagunis.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Demon Deacons came alive in the sixth and put three on the board. Rhine again got the offense started with a one-out single and moved to second on a single by Pat Blair. Morgan, Carey and Keniry all drove in a run on three consecutive at bats with a single, a double and a single, respectively. That gave Wake Forest a 3-1 advantage.
Chad Morgan cut the deficit in half for Virginia Tech in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Chad Pinder from second on a single to left field and making the score 3-2.
Virginia Tech went ahead in the eighth inning with three runs. After Pinder and Zagunis reached on singles, Andrew Rash lifted a ball over the fence down the left field line that was ruled fair.
The Demon Deacons were able to load the bases in the top of the ninth before Labitan came on to shut the door.
Wake Forest and Virginia Tech will play Game 3 of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at English Field.
