Emma Mazzarone and the Hokies played well against Clemson until things slipped away down the stretch. (Virginia Tech athletics)

As the rain intensified during the ACC Tournament semifinal, No. 3 seed Virginia Tech’s pitchers failed to grip the ball. Its arms combined to allow 13 walks on Friday, surrendering eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to end its conference title bid to No. 2 Clemson in a 10-9 defeat.

Emma Mazzarone threw the first 5 ⅔ frames and largely prevented Clemson from hitting the ball — one way or another. Though she collected six strikeouts, she walked a career-high eight batters. Mazzarone left the game with a 9-6 lead and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth; during that frame, she allowed three runs via a fielding error and a two-run double.

Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour replaced Mazzarone — who had tossed 125 pitches — after the double with Emma Lemley. Lemley had trouble finding the strike zone and was clearly failing to grip the ball in the downpour. She issued four consecutive walks and a hit-by-pitch to tie the game at nine. 

Sophie Kleiman then took the circle for the Hokies (41-11) and walked another batter, which brought the winning run across for the Tigers (43-12). She finally worked a strikeout to end the sixth, which spanned 14 batters and three arms. The frame turned a seven-run Tech advantage into a one-run deficit.

Before the bottom of the sixth, the Hokies were comfortable. They had a seven-run margin for error, capped off by a four-run top of the sixth, and were poised to qualify for their first ACC title game in D’Amour’s tenure. Instead, they will travel back to Blacksburg after just two games.

The top of the sixth was noteworthy. Designated player Kylie Aldridge doubled into left center field, scoring three: catcher Zoe Yaeger, right fielder Cori McMillan and second baseman Rachel Castine. Then left fielder Lyla Blackwell singled to bring around Aldridge.

Prior to that, Tech scored in the second and fourth frames. In the second, first baseman Emily LeGette doubled to score starting left fielder Trinity Martin. The fourth inning involved center fielder Bre Peck scoring off a fielding error, pinch runner Sara McNelly scoring off a throwing error and McMillan homering.

McMillan’s bomb was her 30th of the season, extending her program record and setting an ACC record. She is just one of 17 players to reach that mark.

The Hokies were largely effective off Clemson starter Reese Basinger, who the ACC named its pitcher of the year. They generated seven hits and five runs off her, though none of them were earned. Still, they were enough to win — until they weren’t.

Brooke McCubbin earned the win in the circle for Clemson across the final 3 ⅓ innings. She surrendered four hits and four runs — two of which were earned — and kept Tech at bay just enough to survive another day.

The two teams did not exactly put on a fielding clinic. In the wet conditions, Clemson totaled five errors while Virginia Tech added another four. The miscues meant only eight of the 19 runs scored were earned.

Tech hit 7-for-25 with runners on base, including 4-for-14 with them in scoring position. In the same situations, Clemson went 5-for-18 and 3-for-13, respectively.

A win would have put Virginia Tech safely in the top 16 — the threshold to host a regional in Blacksburg. The loss did not advance the Hokies closer to their goal, but they remain in a position to have their name called in the top quarter of NCAA Tournament teams.

They will learn their fate — and location — for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET during ESPN’s selection show. In the meantime, all they can do is make the trip back to Blacksburg and wait.

Box Score: Clemson 10, Virginia Tech 9