Wake Forest University
18-15, 7-8
Virginia Tech
18-14, 5-10
Virginia Tech Holds Off Wake Forest in Finale, 10-9
4/7/2019 5:43:00 PM | Baseball
The Demon Deacons stormed back from an early 8-0 deficit to get within a run of the Hokies.
The Hokies (18-14, 5-10 ACC) scored five runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to take the lead, but the Demon Deacons (18-15, 7-8 ACC) scored in five of the last six innings to claw back into the game.
DJ Poteet blasted a pair of solo homers and drew a walk to lead the Deacon offensive attack, while Bobby Seymour was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. Bobby Hearn and Antonio Menendez each tossed scoreless innings in relief to keep the Deacs in the game.
A two-run homer by Kenny Carpenter sparked a five-run third inning for the Hokies, while Dalton Harum hit a solo shot in the fourth en route to Virginia Tech's 8-0 lead.
The Deacs started chipping away in the bottom of the fourth as Chris Lanzilli walked and Seymour singled. They scored on an error and Brendan Tinsman sac fly to make the score 8-2.
Poteet drilled his first solo homer in the fifth to cut the margin to 8-3. In the sixth, the Hokies loaded the bases with nobody out but were limited to one run thanks to a double play and groundout.
Lanzilli doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored on a Seymour single which cut the deficit to 9-4.
After the Hokies plated their final run in the top of the seventh, Wake Forest threatened with two on and one out in the bottom of the frame, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Hearn tossed a scoreless top of the eighth, then the Deacs struck for four in the bottom of the inning to make the score 10-8.
Wake Forest drew five walks and a hit-by-pitch, and the Hokies had an error to help the Deacs as Virginia Tech used six pitchers in the inning. However, two potential Deacon hits were overturned into outs by umpires after video reviews and Wake Forest left the bases loaded, leaving the potential go-ahead run on first.
Virginia Tech reliever Jaison Heard recorded two quick outs in the ninth before surrendering another solo homer to Poteet. After falling behind to the potential tying run, he threw three-straight strikes to record the game-ending strikeout.
Luke Horanski and Carpenter each recorded a homer among three hits and three RBIs to lead the Hokies.
Wake Forest is back in action against High Point on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Winston-Salem.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chris Gerard (3-0)
L: McSweeney, Morgan (3-3)
S: Jaison Heard (1)
Batting:
2B: Carson Taylor 1 ; Luke Horanski 1 ; Kerry Carpenter 1 ; Kevin Madden 1
HR: Nick Biddison 1 ; Kerry Carpenter 1 ; Dalton Harum 1
RBI: Nick Biddison 1 ; Carson Taylor 1 ; Luke Horanski 3 ; Kerry Carpenter 3 ; Dalton Harum 1
SH: Kevin Madden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jack Owens 1 ; Nick Biddison 3 ; Carson Taylor 2 ; Luke Horanski 2 ; Kerry Carpenter 1 ; Dalton Harum 1
SB: Jack Owens 1 ; Nick Biddison 1 ; Kevin Madden 1
CS: Luke Horanski 1
PO: Luke Horanski 1
Batting:
2B: Lanzilli, Chris 1
HR: Poteet, DJ 2
RBI: Turconi, Michael 1 ; Frick, Patrick 1 ; Lanzilli, Chris 1 ; Seymour, Bobby 1 ; Tinsman, Brendan 1 ; Poteet, DJ 2 ; Mueller, Jake 1
SF: Tinsman, Brendan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lanzilli, Chris 2 ; Seymour, Bobby 1 ; Tinsman, Brendan 1 ; Ludowig, Michael 1 ; Poteet, DJ 3 ; Mueller, Jake 1
SB: Ludowig, Michael 1
HBP: Turconi, Michael 1
