April 21, 2006

Box Score

Hokies 8, Duke 4

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Freshman Luke Padgett drove in thee runs and junior David Cross turned in a strong pitching performance as Virginia Tech won game one of its three-game ACC series with Duke, 8-3, at English Field on Friday night.

The win improved Tech's overall record to 17-22 and its ACC mark to 3-16. Duke is 12-30 overall and 4-15 in the league.

The Hokies plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Junior center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.) led off the inning with a single. Parks stole second and moved to third on a single by first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) before scoring on freshman designated hitter Luke Padgett's sacrifice fly to center.

Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.) also had a hand in Tech's two-run third inning. A two-out throwing error by Duke second baseman Javier Socorro allowed O'Brien to reach first base. Padgett followed with a double that scored O'Brien and, in turn, scored the Hokies' second run of the inning on a double by second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.).

Tech starting pitcher David Cross (Scottsdale, Ariz.) allowed just one hit during the first four innings before running into some trouble in the fifth. Back-to-back singles by Duke catcher Matt Williams and third baseman Adam Murray were followed by a walk to left fielder Tim Sherlock that loaded the bases. Jimmy Gallager's sacrifice fly to center field brought home Williams with the Blue Devils' first run. Murray moved to third on the play and scored on an infield single by shortstop Brett Bartles.

The Hokies returned the favor with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. RBI- singles by Padgett and third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) put Tech back up by three, 5-2.

Duke got a run back in the sixth when center fielder Jonathan Anderson singled, moved to second on a single by first baseman Jonathan Nicolla and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Anderson scored as Murray grounded out to second base.

Tech right fielder Billy Marn (Yorktown, Va.) led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his second home run of the season. The Hokies added two more runs in the inning after a Duke fielding error allowed Parks to reach base with one out. O'Brien doubled to score Parks, then moved to third on a single by Padgett and came home on a single by Hacker.

Cross gave up three runs in 7 2/3 innings on the way to picking up his third win against six losses. He scattered seven hits, struck out seven and walked four. Adam Redd (Dumfries, Va.) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up a run in the ninth.

Padgett led Tech's 12-hit attack with a 3-for-3 night that included three runs batted in and one scored. O'Brien, Hacker and Marn contributed two hits each.

Duke starting pitcher Danny Otero (5-4) took the loss. Otero worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits. Right fielder Gallagher was the only Blue Devil with two hits.

Game two of the series, which will be televised by FSN South, is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1.