BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Logan Eisenreich struck out nine over six innings and Virginia Tech rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Clemson 2-1 on Friday afternoon at English Field.

Clemson seized an early lead in the top of the first inning. Jarren Purify singled through the right side of the infield, scoring a run to put the Tigers ahead 1-0. Purify stole second base, but Virginia Tech challenged the call and it stood. The Tigers could not add to their lead as the next two batters struck out. The 1-0 advantage held through eight innings behind a dominant Clemson bullpen.

Clemson starter Michael Sharman pitched one inning, allowing one hit and striking out two before turning the game over to Drew Titsworth. Titsworth tossed three hitless innings, striking out five. Ariston Veasey followed with three hitless innings of his own, fanning three. The Tigers’ pitching staff held Virginia Tech to just one hit through the first eight frames. The lone Hokies hit came in the bottom of the first when David Gibson singled to left field. Virginia Tech managed only that hit until the ninth.

Clemson had opportunities to extend its lead. The Tigers recorded nine hits in the game but left multiple runners in scoring position. Purify finished 2 for 4 with two stolen bases. Jack Crighton also went 2 for 4. In the top of the fifth, Purify singled again and stole second, but Clemson failed to bring him home. The Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the third after a walk and a single, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.

Eisenreich worked efficiently for Virginia Tech, allowing seven hits and one earned run with one walk and nine strikeouts. He exited after six innings, and Ethan Grim took over. Grim threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. The Virginia Tech bullpen kept Clemson off the board after the first inning.

The game remained 1-0 entering the bottom of the ninth. Hayden Simmerson, who had entered in the eighth inning for Clemson, retired the first two batters of the ninth. He then allowed a double to right-center field by Ethan Ball, putting the tying run in scoring position. After a fly out advanced Ball to third, Chris Locurto singled to right field, driving in Ball to tie the game at 1-1. Henry Daniel then singled to third base, moving Locurto to second. Locurto advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Daniel was thrown out at first base on a catcher-to-shortstop-to-first-to-second-to-shortstop relay. But on the play, Locurto scored the winning run, giving Virginia Tech a 2-1 victory.

The win improved Virginia Tech’s record to 29-22, while Clemson dropped to 30-25. The game was the second of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series. Virginia Tech won the opener 5-1 on Thursday. The teams will conclude the series Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Virginia Tech 7, Clemson 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Clemson with a 56.40 percent probability to win.