HAMMERING HOKIES CAN'T KEEP UP WITH NO. 12 DIAMOND HEELS

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech’s (24-14, 9-10 ACC) pitching could not hold down No. 12 North Carolina (30-8, 12-7) forever, dropping the first game of the weekend series in a 9-6 loss in front of a season record 2,288 spectators at English Field. 

Tech starting pitcher Brett Renfrow had his work cut out for him, going against arguably the best pitcher in the ACC, Jake Knapp, who boasts an ERA of just 1.51.

Renfrow and Knapp went all out notching eight and seven strikeouts respectively and going over the century mark in the pitch count.

However, after a two-run homer by Tar Heel first baseman Hunter Stokely in the sixth, and runners on first and second, Renfrow’s night was done and the Hokies found themselves down 5-1. 

Carolina pulled Knapp after letting up the second ground rule double of the game to right fielder Sam Tackett and walking catcher Henry Cooke, but quickly regretted it.

Third baseman Hudson Lutterman doinked a home run ball off the foul pole which brought Tackett and Cooke home, earning 20 RBI’s on the season with just 19 hits and bringing the Hokies within one run to tie.

Every time the Hokies gained momentum though, the Tar Heels stole it right back.

Carolina took advantage of reliever Preston Crowl in the seventh, as speedy center fielder Kane Kepley tripled and second baseman Jackson Van De Brake got him home with the next at-bat. Heel’s third baseman Gavin Gallaher took Van De Brake home as well on a single, and gained a three-run lead. 

The bullpen was Tech’s achilles heel, and only true freshman Brenden Cowen, who was put in with the bases loaded and no outs, was able to get through a complete inning. Cowen was even able to earn his first three career ACC strikeouts. 

The Carolina defense was also stifling, highlighted by Kepley hawking down a line drive to center and making a tantalizing diving catch. 

Carolina's only reliever of the night, Walker McDuffie, finished the game for Knapp, improving Knapp’s undefeated record to 8-0 and McDuffie’s save total to four. 

No one for the Hokies did as much damage offensively as Tackett, who hit a 406-foot blast to left field in the third. 

Just as they had all night, though, the Tar Heels answered right back with leadoff batter Luke Stevenson crushing a homer of his own to left field and reclaimed their one-run lead. 

Tech first baseman Anderson French also had a productive night, although it was unique. He went 1-of-1 from the plate and was walked three times, but could only get home once.

Jared Davis, the Hokies’ center fielder and leadoff batter, could not get anything to go his way. His usual consistent offensive presence was missing as he went hitless through five at-bats. He also had a couple of unlucky bounces in the outfield. 

In the eighth, Tech went for a final offensive burst. Cam Pittman ripped a hard grounder through the first base gap, advancing French to third. Shortstop Clay Grady hit another rocket grounder to Van De Brake and beat the throw to first, getting French home. 

The late heroics were quickly irrelevant after Tech reliever Luke Jackman allowed a single and walked the next two batters to load the bases, leading to walk-in runs by fellow relievers Marcel Kulik and Brenden Cowen after Jackman was pulled. 

The final frame brought one more spark by Tech with a David McCann homer, but McDuffie closed the book against Cooke with his sixth strikeout.

The series continues Saturday, April 19 back at English Field at 3 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.