BLACKSBURG, Va. – Notre Dame (9-3) dropped the ACC opener at Virginia Tech (9-3) Friday, 11-3. INF Jack Penney, OF Brady Gumpf and C Joey Spence were responsible for Notre Dame’s three runs, with OF David Glancy, INF Connor Hincks and OF T.J. Williams responsible for the RBI.
RHP Ricky Reeth (0-1) went 3.0 innings in his first-career start, posting three strikeouts but shouldering the loss. RHP Jack Radel went 2.0 innings with one strikeout, and LHP Ryan Lynch entered briefly in the sixth inning, followed by RHP Caden Spivey. Spivey went 2.0 innings with four strikeouts, and RHP DJ Helwig entered to pitch the final inning for his first-career appearance, allowing one hit.
In addition to Helwig’s first-career appearance, C Davis Johnson made his first collegiate appearance as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish made a mark in the first, as Penney drew a walk and stole second, continuing to third on a throwing error. Hincks hit a sac fly to score Penney, putting the Irish on the board heading to the bottom of the inning.
The Hokies responded, placing runners on first and third after a HBP and single. An RBI single brought in Virginia Tech’s first run, and a double gave the Hokies the lead. Another RBI single scored a third run before the Irish closed the inning on a groundout to INF Estevan Moreno.
Notre Dame was retired in order in the second, and after a single and sac bunt from Virginia Tech, the Hokies added another run on an RBI double.
Spence led off the third with a single to center field, Notre Dame’s first hit of the day. After two outs, Spence took second on a wild pitch, and Glancy sent a single to center field to score Spence and make the score 2-4.
Virginia Tech posted two hits in the third inning, executing a double steal to score another run and enter the fourth leading by three.
Notre Dame again sat down in order in the fourth, and Radel entered to pitch for the Irish to begin the bottom half of the inning. The Hokies led off with a triple, scoring on a subsequent RBI single. After a flyout and two walks, Virginia Tech loaded the bases. Radel struck out the next batter, and OF Tito Flores grabbed a low line drive to right field, diving to make the out and end the inning at 2-6.
Gumpf led off the fifth with a double, taking third on a Spence flyout. Williams dropped a sac bunt to score Gumpf, cutting the Virginia Tech lead to 3-6. Radel and the Irish sat the Hokie side down in order in the bottom of the inning.
The Irish went three up, three down in the sixth. After two singles and a HBP to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Lynch entered for the Irish with bases loaded. Virginia Tech took advantage of its runners and hit a grand slam, their first of the season. Spivey entered to pitch for Notre Dame, posting two strikeouts before Virginia Tech scored another run. Spivey earned a third strikeout to end the inning down 3-11.
Both sides went scoreless in the seventh, the first scoreless inning of the game. Notre Dame was retired in order in the eighth, and a new Irish battery entered to begin the bottom of the eighth, with Helwig on the mound and C Tony Lindwedel behind the plate. Virginia Tech reached on an error, placing one back on first on a fielder’s choice as the Irish tagged out the lead runner. After a Virginia Tech single, OF Simon Baumgardt made an impressive grab on a lineout, tossing to Moreno at second base for a double play to end the inning.
INF Casey Kmet, INF Nick DeMarco and Johnson all entered to pinch-hit in the ninth. Virginia Tech retired the Irish in order to close out the game.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Virginia Tech return to English Field Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.