Curtailed by the weather, Notre Dame pitcher Jack Radel and, most harmfully, itself, Virginia Tech dropped its second straight on Friday, snapping its five-game ACC win streak and further distancing itself from the bliss of last weekend.
In its 7-2 loss at a cold and rainy French Eck Stadium, the Hokies (20-10, 7-6 ACC) were tied twice and even began with a lead, but their muzzled offense and three slippery errors helped the Fighting Irish (15-12, 3-10) get ahead, and they never looked back.
Tech right fielder Jackson Cherry opened scoring with his third homer of the year in the second inning, an encouraging full-count blast that hinted at an offensive rebound from Tuesday’s 8-1 loss to Radford. Instead, it was the Hokies’ third-to-last hit all day.
The Irish scored a run off a passed ball in the bottom side, then another as Tech starter Brett Renfrow’s second walk crossed home plate.
He was throwing well, though, with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed through three innings. But after an odd sequence of events, he was removed before going any further.
As usual, Renfrow warmed up at the mound before facing any fourth-inning batters, but as he tossed, conversations suddenly ensued between Hokies head coach John Szefc, pitching coach Ryan Fecteau and the officials. It’s speculated that they were discussing the quality of the mound, but only their conclusion was clear: Renfrow was going to be pulled. There were no signs of injury for Tech’s ace, but that can’t be ruled out.
Reliever Jacob Exum took his place, holding the Irish scoreless in the fourth despite a walk and a single. Ben Watson knocked a sacrifice fly in the fifth to even the game at two, then the Hokies opted for another pitching change in the top side: Mathieu Curtis.
Whether it was a matter of rain, a mound issue or simply strategy, Szefc continued to burn through short relief appearances all game. Curtis didn’t allow an earned run in the fifth inning, but Jared Davis errored with a chance for a double play to let through Notre Dame’s game-winning score.
Relievers Josh Berzonski and Preston Crowl combined to surrender two more runs next inning — the second unearned due to Henry Cooke’s error — then Notre Dame’s Carson Tinney blasted a two-run homer off Tech righty Luke Jackman in the seventh.
Brendan Yagesh, who returned from injury, combined with Marcel Kulik and Brandon Cowen to retire the last four Fighting Irish batters.
All the while, Tech’s offense sputtered. Including Watson’s sacrifice fly and Davis’ groundout before him, nine straight Hokies batters were retired by Radel between the fifth and seventh innings, where his 104-pitch start ended. He allowed just three hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out five on Friday. It was the 6-foot-5 sophomore’s longest career outing by over an inning, and he did it amid spotty downpours.
Tech’s plumpest offensive opportunity came upon Radel’s removal for Tobey McDonough in the eighth, when Davis, Sam Tackett and David McCann loaded the bases with Harrison Lutterman — known for his seasoned situational hitting — at the plate. He grounded into a double play.
In the ninth inning, Cooke, Cherry and Ethan Gibson took three straight contact outs, and the Hokies’ first conference loss since March 22 was cemented.
They’ll hope to get back in the win column in Game 2 on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra). Tech’s Jake Marciano (8.62 ACC ERA) is likely to toss across from Rory Fox (5.00).
On an injury note, Treyson Hughes hasn’t appeared in the Hokies’ lineup since last Sunday, when he played first base (replacing an injured Garrett Michel) and center field. Considering Szefc’s regard for the senior and his solid play as of late, an injury seems probable. Hughes missed three weeks in March with a pinched nerve in his hip.
Box Score: Notre Dame 7, Virginia Tech 2