BULLPEN LIFTS THE HOKIES TO A 6-4 VICTORY

Ryan Wilkes

March 7, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. — No. 24 Virginia Tech (7-1, 4-1 ACC) secured its first ever series victory over No. 25 North Carolina (6-3, 2-3) behind stellar relief pitching and timely hitting.

The Heels wasted no time getting the bat on the ball, roping three singles to left field in the first inning, resulting in a 1-0 lead after one inning.

Hokie freshman Tanner Schobel responded with a no-doubter right off the bat, sending the ball deep through the brisk Blacksburg air, knotting the game at one with his first career home run.

Justice Thompson stole the lead right back, sending one deep to center and over the centerfield wall. Thompson took his time rounding the bases after watching the ball fly out of Atlantic Union Bank Park.

Chris Gerard started on the bump for the Hokies, dealing five solid innings. Gerard fanned eight Tar Heels and allowed only three runs to cross the plate.

Graham Firoved entered the game for the Hokies with the game still up for grabs, both teams locked at three. Firoved negated any North Carolina threat, striking out six Carolina hitters in three innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Hokies added to their lead with a Cade Hunter sacrifice fly to shallow right, followed by a Jack Hurley single that sent both Tanner Schobel and Jonah Seagears across the plate.

Matthew Siverling entered the game for Firoved in the eighth, looking to leave the rowdy crowd at English Field satisfied with a win.

Thompson came up big for the Heels again in the eighth, sending a single to dead center, scoring Angel Zarate to narrow the gap between the ACC foes at 6-4.

Siverling stomped out any momentum Carolina had coming into the ninth, retiring all three Heels in order. Max Troiani rolled a grounder to Kevin Madden who fielded it cleanly and threw it across the diamond to TJ Rumfield.

The crack of Rumfield’s glove cued an eruption from the stands at Atlantic Union Bank Park as the Hokies secured another ACC win.

The victory secures not only the first ever series victory over North Carolina, but it gives Tech its second straight series victory over an ACC opponent, both of which are ranked.

The Heels and the Hokies return to English Field Sunday at 1 p.m. for the series finale as No. 25 North Carolina (6-3, 2-3) looks to return to Chapel Hill on a good note, while No. 24 Virginia Tech (7-1, 4-1) seeks the sweep.