Duke Falls 3-1 to Open Series at Virginia Tech

Friday, April 20

Blacksburg, Va.

7:00 PM

Duke University

24-23, 8-11

Virginia Tech

20-25, 6-12

Duke

Virginia Tech

Duke Falls 3-1 to Open Series at Virginia Tech

4/20/2018 8:29:00 PM | Softball

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By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. – In what was a pitcher's duel for most of the night, a three-run fifth inning was the difference as the Duke Blue Devils (24-23, 8-11 ACC) fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies (20-25, 6-12 ACC) in a 3-1 contest to open the series Friday at the Tech Softball Park.

Both sides were held hitless until the fifth, when Duke broke through to take a 1-0 lead on an Amelia Wiercioch single up the middle. Jameson Kavel got things started by reaching on an error by Tech's third baseman and followed it up by taking second with her team-leading 14th stolen base of the season. After a Kortney Dry groundout moved Kavel over to third, with Wiercioch's single representing the game's first hit and first run.

Virginia Tech would answer in the home half of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits, all doubles, to take a 3-1 lead that it would hold for the remainder of the game to take the series opener.

Duke was held to just two hits on the night, its lowest output of the season. Wiercioch broke up the VT no-hitter in the fifth, extending her hitting streak to three-straight games to draw within two of tying her career best. Dominique Salinas added the Blue Devils' second hit with a base knock in the sixth.

Wiercioch (9-10) drew the start for Duke, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing three runs, two earned, and three hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Peyton St. George threw 1.2 innings in relief, striking out one and walking another.

The series resumes Saturday, April 21 with a noon ET first pitch. The contest will have live audio, which can be accessed by going to GoDuke.com/softball.

For more information on Duke softball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for “DukeSoftball”. You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for “dukeathletics”.

Extra Bases…

Friday marked Duke's first meeting against a team from the state of Virginia.
The Blue Devils are now 3-4 in series openers.
Jameson Kavel turned a pair of 6-3 double plays Friday night, marking the first multi-double play game in program history.
Amelia Wiercioch has hit safely in three-straight games, moving her two shy of tying her career-best stretch.

Series Schedule...

Friday, April 20
Virginia Tech def. Duke, 3-1 (Stats)

Saturday, April 21
Duke at Virginia Tech – 12:00 p.m. ET
Blacksburg, Va.
Tech Softball Park

Sunday, April 22
Duke at Virginia Tech – 1:00 p.m. ET
ACC Network Extra
Blacksburg, Va.
Tech Softball Park

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