BLACKSBURG – Charging out to the 4-1 lead through four innings of play on Friday, the Virginia Tech baseball team was set back by No. 16 Clemson's feverish two-out rally during the fifth inning as the Hokies dropped the teams' weekend opener, 15-4, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Fourth-year outfielder Carson Jones traded home runs with Will Taylor during the first inning, spotting Tech the 2-1 lead when his two-run blast curled over the left field foul pole. After replay review had upheld Jones' 12th home run of the season, Jack Hurley proceeded to turn on the ensuing pitch from southpaw starter Ethan Darden, easing his way into a triple after his fly ball had rocketed off the brim of the leaping Cam Cannarella in center field.
Equipped with the 3-1 lead, starter Drue Hackenberg earned nine outs from the next 10 batters he faced, leaving Virginia Tech (29-17, 11-13 ACC) room to add to its advantage. Garrett Michel's base hit through the left side during the fourth inning led to the Hokies lying runners at the corners with two outs, from which a wild pitch by reliever Jackson Lindley allowed David Bryant to scoot home and pad Tech's lead at 4-1.
Turning momentum in its favor, Clemson (33-17, 15-10 ACC) opened the fifth inning with a pair of leadoff singles by Blake Wright and Benjamin Blackwell before Cannarella brought them both home on his two-RBI double to left center field. Collecting the inning's second out, Hackenberg appeared to be in sight of squashing the rally, despite the Tigers stunning the right-hander for six consecutive hits, leading to six more runs.
Clemson tied the game on Taylor's high-hop infield single to the left side, taking the 6-4 lead when Taylor (and Caden Grice) scored on Billy Amick's two-RBI double down the left field line. Riley Bertram followed with an RBI double of his own while Wright and Blackwell finished the melee with consecutive RBI singles.
Cannarella continued the Tigers' surge during the sixth inning, shuttling Jacob Exum's 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for the solo homer that set the score at 10-4.
Virginia Tech had a chance to chip away during the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases for Hurley with two outs. Hurley worked his 0-2 count against Reed Garris back to 2-2, though wound up cutting through a fastball for the inning-ending strikeout.
Clemson added three runs during the seventh inning and two more during the eighth inning, finishing the game with 20 hits. Grant Umberger navigated through the final two and two-thirds innings on the mound for the Hokies, who combined to log eight strikeouts and issue one walk.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will look to even its weekend series against No. 16 Clemson on Saturday, May 13, during Senior Night at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m. (airing on ACC Network) with Tech's pregame senior recognition beginning at approximately 6:35 p.m.
Gallery: (5-12-2023) BSB: Clemson Game 1