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Things didn't start well for the Hokies and their shortstop Ricky Surum. The sophomore from Atlanta made a pair of first-inning errors, which helped Clemson score three unearned runs for an early lead. Surum was pulled before the start of the second inning, though it was not clear whether it was because of an injury or because he was on pace for 18 errors.
While Virginia Tech starter Jon Woodcock settled in after the 42-pitch first to throw seven innings of five-hit ball, and reliever Luke Scherzer struck out five in 3 2/3 innings to help hold Clemson scoreless after the first, the hosts chipped away.
Tech scored four runs in a variety of ways:
Bottom of the 1st - Kyle Wernicki's ground out followed Tyler Slaton lead off triple to make it 3-1
3rd - Erik Payne singled in a run
8th - Payne scored on a wild pitch to tie things up at 3-3
12th - After Clemson's Weston Wilson was left at third following a one-out triple in the top half of the inning - the Tigers also left a runner at second in the 9th, runners at second and third in the 10th and the bases loaded in the 11th - Tech loaded the bases in the bottom half. Rahiem Cooper, who pinch-ran in the eighth, hit a hard ground ball to second base, Chase Pinder's throw to the plate was late and the Hokies walked off an avoided the sweep.
* Any time a Virginia Tech pitcher records a strike out, a horrible, turkey-like sound is spewed from the speakers at English Stadium. It basically sounds like someone is rewinding an old tape recorder. Unfortunately, Clemson batters struck out 11 times in 12 innings on Sunday.
* Hokies' freshman left-hander Packy Naughton did not have any of those strike outs, in fact he threw just one strike and walked both batters he faced Sunday, but the Webb Bobo All Stars still need a Packy on the roster.
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