Marn?s Solo Shot Sparks Three-Run Sixth In Virginia Tech?s 8-4 Win Over Duke

Friday, April 21

Blacksburg, Va.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Tonight?s Duke-Davidson Baseball Game Postponed Due To Rain

Marn?s Solo Shot Sparks Three-Run Sixth In Virginia Tech?s 8-4 Win Over Duke

4/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. ? Right fielder Billy Marn hit a leadoff home run to spark a three-run sixth inning for Virginia Tech as the Hokies defeated the Duke Blue Devils, 8-4, on Friday night at English Field. Duke falls to 12-30 overall and 4-15 in the ACC while Virginia Tech improves to 17-22 overall and 3-16 in conference play.

Leading 5-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, Marn crushed a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for his second home run of the season. After left fielder Sean Ryan struck out swinging, center fielder Nate Parks reached on a Duke error. Two batters later, first baseman Sean O'Brien lined an RBI-double to left to score Parks. Designated hitter Luke Padgett would then reach on an infield single to give the Hokies runners on the corners. Second baseman Matt Hacker capped the inning with an RBI-single through the right side to give Virginia Tech an 8-3 lead.

Virginia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Parks led off the inning with a single to left. After shortstop Warren Schaeffer flew out to center, Parks stole second. O'Brien followed with a bloop single to right to give the Hokies runners on the corners. Padgett would then drive Parks home with a sacrifice fly to center for the first run of the ballgame.

The Hokies added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead. With two outs, O'Brien hit a grounder to the right side where Duke second baseman Javier Socorro made a diving stop. Socorro popped up and threw to first but first baseman Jonathan Nicolla could not hold on to the throw. Padgett then laced an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring O'Brien from first. Hacker capped the frame with an RBI-double to right to score Padgett.

Duke scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Catcher Matt Williams singled to right center and stole second to begin the inning. After third baseman Adam Murray's infield single gave the Blue Devils runners on the corners, left fielder Tim Sherlock drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher then plated Williams and moved Murray to third with a sacrifice fly to center. Shortstop Brett Bartles followed with an infield single to score Murray to cap the inning.

Virginia Tech answered with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. After Parks was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Schaeffer singled through the left side to give the Hokies runners on first and second. Parks would then be thrown out at third on a fielder's choice. With runners on first and second, Padgett sent a high chopper down the third base line that bounced over Murray's head into left field, scoring Schaeffer. Hacker would then fly out to right to move O'Brien to third before third baseman Bryan Thomas lined an RBI-single through the left side.

The Blue Devils would score a run in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3. After back-to-back singles by center fielder Jonathan Anderson and Nicolla to begin the frame, Williams moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Anderson would then score on an RBI-groundout by Murray to make it a two-run ballgame.

Socorro added an RBI-single in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring at 8-4.

Virginia Tech starter David Cross struck out seven and held the Blue Devils to three runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings to improve to 3-6 on the season.

Duke starter Danny Otero fell to 5-4 after allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 5.2 innings. Of the eight runs charged to Otero, only four were earned. Freshman Andrew Wolcott struck out four batters and allowed only one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Devils.

Gallagher led Duke at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Bartles, Socorro and Murray all added an RBI for the Blue Devils.

Padgett went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Hokies. O'Brien, Hacker and Marn collected two hits apiece in the win.

FSN South will carry tomorrow's game live beginning at 1 p.m. Mick Mixon will handle play-by-play duties and Dan Bonner will provide the color commentary for the broadcast.

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