hokies' offense can't bail out another eighth inning collapse

Sam Alves

May 15, 2021

DURHAM, N.C. — Twice Saturday, the bases were loaded with no outs.

Virginia Tech’s first three batters of the game reached base.

None scored.

Second, Duke, already having scored the go-ahead run in the eighth (again), loaded up the bases, but this time, the Blue Devils scored twice more, securing the 4-1 win and the series, sending the Hokies (27-18, 16-16 ACC) further into their season’s downward spiral.

Yes, the Tech bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning — not the type of consistency John Szefc has been looking for — but unlike Saturday’s eight-run implosion, Duke’s (23-20, 11-18 ACC) three-run eighth itself wasn’t enough to knock out the Hokies.

Simonelli tossed seven runs of one-run ball, striking out a season-high 10 batters — a cutter that dipped inside to lefties and a high fastball useful against anyone did the trick — to keep the game competitive even after Matthew Siverling was tagged for three runs in relief.

The Hokies ran into three key outs on the basepath and batted 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, so though they totaled 11 hits, they only crossed the plate once.

Tanner Schobel, who singled four times, was thrown out at home for the third out of the first inning after he tagged up on a fly ball to left fielder Peter Matt.

Then again in the fifth, after knocking in Nick Biddison for his team’s only run of the day, Schobel was caught trying to advance to second on a well-blocked wild pitch. He and Dayne Leonard were on base with slugger Gavin Cross batting and only one out.

Finally, TJ Rumfield doubled to begin the eighth, but Kevin Madden’s bunt didn’t force Duke reliever Jimmy Loper to move far off the mound, allowing him to throw out Rumfield at third. And to make matters worse, Rumfield immediately flexed his right shoulder in pain.

No assist was particularly close.

That set up the bottom of the eighth. Siverling was first in relief, and he quickly allowed four singles and three runs.

The Tech bullpen doesn’t have anyone waiting in the wings. Shane Connolly is back after moving to the rotation following Chris Gerard’s return from a groin injury . Both Connolly and Graham Firoved were used extensively on Friday.

Siverling was the first choice today, though Jaison Heard quickly retired the two runners he inherited once Siverling was pulled.

The Hokies have now lost four straight ACC series. They’re 2-9 in their last 11 ACC games.

Game three at Duke, three more at home versus Notre Dame and at least two games in the ACC tournament are all that is guaranteed.

Time’s running out for a rebirth.