Patience is the driving force behind the Hokies.
The Hokies were hot on the mound and at the plate for the first two innings, and despite being down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Tech got back on track at the plate in the top of the second.
Duke junior starter Ryan Higgins struck out senior Gehrig Ebel in the second inning. However, after getting four straight outs to start the game, Higgins walked four Hokies on consecutive balls, giving senior Eddie Mikuletti Sr. the first score of the game.
Higgins was struck out after a walk, but Virginia Tech's patient approach to the plate provided a big starting point in the second inning. The Hokies forced Higgins, who pitched just 1.1 innings, to throw 42 pitches.
The Hokies eventually scored five runs in the inning on a 3-run, 384-footer by junior Carson DeMartini, the only hit of the inning. It was DeMartini's 21st home run of the season, the most by a Hokie in a single season since Trey McCoy hit 24 in 1988.
Breakdown of 3 times
Junior Wyatt Parliament helped score five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and in the bottom of the second he forced Duke to three consecutive outs, including two strikeouts. However, after forcing the first six batters out, the Blue Devil batters brought Congress to a halt.
Junior Devin Obey led off the bottom of the third inning with a triple. The next batter, junior Wallace Clark, issued a walk, putting runners on Duke's corners. Graduate Zach Morris quickly got the Blue Devils back in the contest with a three-run homer that was reviewed twice before being ruled a home run.
Graduate Ben Miller doubled in his next at-bat to end Parliament's day, and graduate Matthew Shivering was brought in for the Hokies. But Shivering proved not to be the Hokies' savior that inning.
Miller hit the first batter he faced and allowed back-to-back singles to center field for a total of three runs, before being replaced by junior Jordan Little.
The Blue Devils continued to lead 6-5 heading into the fourth inning.
Following Duke's inning, the Hokies went four straight scoreless innings, but the Blue Devils scored four more runs during that time. Virginia Tech finally got the chance to score in the seventh and eighth innings on a sacrifice fly by graduated student Ben Watson and a two-run home run by freshman David McCann.
Duke won 11 to 8. The Blue Devils defeated the Hokies 11-5.
The two biggest points
Virginia Tech scored eight runs. Yet, they somehow still struggled to get walks. Five of the Hokies' eight runs came by four consecutive walks in the second inning. Tech's approach at the plate was effective, leading to 11 walks for the team. But the Hokies just didn't have a solid enough bases load tonight to keep up with the fiery Blue Devil bats.
On the mound, the Hokies struggled mightily after the first two innings. Parliament's start quickly went downhill, and Shivering's attempts to rescue him were fruitless. The bright spot on the mound for Tech was Little. In relief of Shivering, Little pitched 2.1 innings, allowing just one run, walking one, and striking out four batters.
If the Hokies want to win the ACC Tournament, their starting pitchers will need to pitch at least 2.1 innings. Limiting extra-base hits should be a priority for the pitching staff, as Parliament allowed three runs in his starting appearances.
Virginia Tech is technically still in the tournament, but as the lowest seed in its bracket, this loss almost certainly means their season will end after their next game.
The Hokies will play North Carolina State tomorrow at 7 p.m.
