CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Trailing 5-0 after two innings, Duke (36-18) batted around for the 18th time this season, scoring six runs to erase the deficit and defeat Virginia Tech (32-21) in game one of Pool C play at Truist Field in Charlotte, N.C., 11-8.
The Hokies opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, scoring five runs on one hit in the frame. The Blue Devils responded with a clean third inning from James Tallon on the mound, before batting around to regain the lead in the bottom of the third. Junior Devin Obee began the frame with a triple to right center field, before Wallace Clark drew a walk and put runners on the corners for the Blue Devils.
Graduate Zac Morris put Duke on the board for the first time, hitting his 16th home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field that narrowly left the yard. Later in the frame, Logan Bravo singled to right center field to score Ben Miller from second and Chase Krewson added to the hit parade with a single to center field to score a pair.
Duke continued to push the offensive attack, as Alex Stone hit a solo home run to left field to push the lead to 7-5. Morris hit his second home run of the night, a two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the sixth, to give the Blue Devils some breathing room at 9-5.
Virginia Tech did not go away quietly, as a run in the seventh and a pair in the eighth, cut into the Duke lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Duke stretched its lead even further, as Bravo doubled to right center field to score Stone from first and Clark singled to right and advanced to third on the throw to score Bravo.
Tallon earned the win in relief working 1.2 innings and allowing one run on one hit, improving to 2-0 on the season. Graduate Charlie Beilenson tied the single season saves record at Duke, joining Tallon, with his 12th of the year, working the final three innings and tying a career high with six punchouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, 5-0.
Zac Morris hit a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the third. Logan Bravo singled to right center to score Ben Miller from second. Chase Krewson singled to center field to score a pair, 6-5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Alex Stone hit a solo home run to left field, 7-5.
Morris hit his second home run of the night, a two-run blast to left field, 9-5.
The Hokies cut into the lead in the top of the seventh inning, 9-6.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bravo doubled to right center to score Stone from first. Wallace Clark singled to right field and advanced to third on the throw to score Bravo from second, 11-6.
Virginia Tech cut into the Duke lead in the top of the eighth, 11-8.
NOTES
Duke and Virginia Tech met for the first time in the ACC Tournament and fourth time this season, as Duke took three of the four games against the Hokies this season.
Graduate Zac Morris finished the evening 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI. He added a pair of runs and a walk to his line. Morris now has collected 22 multi-hit contests this season.
Senior Alex Stone recorded his 12th home run of the season, extending his hitting streak to 13 games on Tuesday. His 2-for-5 line pushed his season total of multi-hit games to 22.
Junior Wallace Clark was hit by his 22nd pitch this season, moving him into a tie for second all-time in a single season. He draws even with Ryan McCurdy (2010) who also holds the single season record of 27 hit by pitches in 2008.
Graduate Charlie Beilenson recorded his 12th save of the season, tying the single season saves record at Duke. The record was set last season by current sophomore James Tallon.
The Blue Devils improved to 17-1 this season when scoring 10-plus runs in a contest.
QUOTES
“We continued to stay in the fight. It wasn’t the best game or the cleanest game we have played all year. We gave up a lot of free offense to a good offense. Virginia Tech is a talented offense, and we were able to be tough enough to stay in the fight. I thought our offense just got better and better as the night went on. We took a lot of good swings and had big at bats. The two big two-out at bats by Logan Bravo and Chase Krewson in the third to give us the lead, gave us a lot of momentum. Krewson followed that up with a huge momentum swing throwing out the tying run at the plate as well.” – Head coach Chris Pollard on his overall thoughts on Tuesday’s pool opener.
“I am always going up to the plate sitting on the fastball. First at bat I was fouling off a couple pitches and ended up getting something I could do something with and the second at bat I was sitting on the fastball and reacted to the slider. I was just seeing the ball well tonight and it was one of those days for me.” – Graduate Zac Morris on what was working at the plate tonight.
“Coach told me pretty early on to be ready to go in at any point. We have been in those situations before and with the day off tomorrow I can pretty much bounce back no matter what. Whatever they want I am ready for it.” – Graduate Charlie Beilenson on if he expected to be in the game in the seventh.
