Virginia Tech Baseball: Hokies Sneak into ACC Tournament

Heading into their final ACC series with Pittsburgh (20-32, 9-21), the Hokies (27-26, 13-16) had likely figured they would have their ACC tournament berth wrapped up well before Saturday. But after two unexpected losses to start the weekend, it had somehow become conceivable that the Hokies could miss the postseason altogether. Clinging to just a half game lead over 11th place Wake Forest (27-26, 12-18) going into Saturday, the Hokies needed a win or a Demon Deacon loss to ensure themselves a spot in the ACC tournament. After three hours of pressure-filled baseball, they ended up getting both.

Thursday, VT @ Pittsburgh: L, 7-0

The Hokies season-high seven-game winning streak was snapped on Thursday as they were shutout by Pittsburgh. Panthers starter Aaron Sandefur tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the Pittsburgh bullpen finished out the game without trouble, surrendering just one hit over the final 3 2/3.

The Panthers jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first off of Hokies ace Sean Keselica with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jacob Wright.

Pittsburgh added on another run in the fifth when they scored on a wild pitch from Keselica that squeaked past catcher Andrew Mogg. The Hokies offense was largely silent until the sixth when Ryan Tufts led off the inning with a leadoff double. After Saige Jenco and Rahiem Cooper flew out, Alex Perez walked to bring up Brendon Hayden, the Hokies biggest power bat. Hayden was unable to deliver as he grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end the Hokies threat.

The Panthers worked two walks to start off the sixth which brought Keselica's evening to a close. Luke Scherzer replaced Keselica and allowed consecutive RBI singles that gave Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead.

Scherzer stayed on to work the seventh and walked home a run before he got Charles Leblanc to line out to short with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Pittsburgh continued to feast on the Hokies bullpen in the eighth as they pounded four hits off of Chris Monaco to extend their lead to seven.

As was the story throughout the night, the Hokies went down quietly in the ninth to give Pittsburgh the game one win.

Friday, VT @ Pittsburgh: L, 7-0

After managing just four hits in game one, the Hokies postseason hopes were cast into even further doubt on Friday as they were shutout for the second straight day by Pittsburgh.

Sophomore southpaw Kit Scheetz started on the mound for the Hokies but lasted just one inning. Scheetz got a quick first out on a comebacker, but then allowed the Panthers to load the bases. After Scheetz struck out Aaron Schnurbusch looking, Panthers third baseman Ron Sherman smoked a bases-clearing triple that gave Pittsburgh an early 3-0 lead. Jordan Frabasilio followed with an RBI single up the middle that plated Sherman.

Head Coach Pat Mason, clearly in a "must-win" mentality with his team's postseason chances slipping away, went to his bullpen in just the second inning as he summoned former Sunday starter Jon Woodcock into the game. Woodcock allowed two earned runs over seven solid innings of relief, but the damage had already been done.

Pittsburgh starter T.J. Zeuch hurled eight scoreless innings and allowed just six hits, all of the singles variety.

The Panthers scratched across an unearned run off of Woodcock in the third that gave them a 5-0 advantage. Pittsburgh piled on two more runs in the fourth courtesy of a Charles Leblanc RBI triple and a Boo Vazquez RBI single.

The Hokies didn't seriously threaten until the seventh when seniors Brendon Hayden, Erik Payne, and Sean Keselica teamed up to load the bases with just one out. Pinch hitter Max Ponzurick went down swinging for the second out and Phil Sciretta grounded out to the pitcher to keep Zeuch's shutout bid in tact.

The Hokies stranded two runners in both the eighth and ninth innings to give Pittsburgh the series win.

Saturday, VT @ Pittsburgh: W, 13-7

Despite the lackluster start to the weekend, the Hokies still controlled their own destiny on Saturday. Apparently unwilling to put their postseason dreams in the hands of Duke, the Hokies offense turned in a 16 hit performance that was more than enough to give them a game three victory.

After being held scoreless for 18 innings, the Hokies needed just a few minutes to get on the board in game three. Saige Jenco led off the game with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Perez. Erik Payne and Sean Keselica then delivered RBI doubles that put the Hokies ahead 2-0.

The Panthers answered in the bottom half of the first with three runs off of freshman starter Packy Naughton that gave them a one-run lead. The Hokies loaded the bases in the second but were unable to score as Brendon Hayden struck out to end the inning.

Naughton was chased from the game in the fourth after letting two Panthers reach base. Aaron McGarity relieved Naughton and allowed three runs in the inning, two attributed to Naughton and one to himself.

The Hokies pulled within 1 in the top of the fifth as Andrew Mogg delivered a much-needed two-RBI double followed by a Max Ponzurick RBI double down the left field line.

The Panthers added another run in the bottom of the fifth off of McGarity with an Eric Hess RBI single up the middle. Erik Payne responded in the top of the sixth by crushing a solo-home run that cut the Pittsburgh lead to one.

As the Virginia Tech-Pittsburgh game entered the eighth inning, Duke (31-22, 10-19) wrapped up their 8-1 victory over Wake Forest that officially clinched the Hokies ACC tournament berth. Seemingly unsatisfied with receiving the ten seed, the Hokies offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth highlighted by an Andrew Mogg grand slam that ended the Hokies regular season in style.

ACC Tournament

After Miami (42-13, 22-8) cruised to a sweep of Georgia Tech (32-22, 13-17), the Hokies snatched the nine seed from the Yellow Jackets thanks to the game three win over Pittsburgh. Ironically, the 8 vs. 9 play-in game on Tuesday will pit the Hokies against North Carolina (32-22, 13-16), the same Tar Heel squad that departed from Blacksburg after playing just two games because of a Sunday rain storm. It seems the baseball gods wanted to see the rubber match between the two teams after all.

There will be a full ACC Tournament preview published on Tuesday, but for now, here's a look at the final ACC standings and the tournament bracket.