nc state uses bats to overpower no. 22 virginia tech

Ryan Wilkes

April 25, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C.一 NC State (19-13, 12-12) took both games from No. 22 Virginia Tech (21-15, 15-12) in Sunday’s doubleheader, winning the first game 11-3 and the second game 7-6.

The Wolfpack had a balanced attack in game one, with a suffocating performance on the mound from Reid Johnston combined with timely hitting.

Johnston delivered six innings of one-hit baseball against a Hokie lineup that has been known throughout the ACC for its firepower and ability to put runs on the board with ease. After allowing Tech to threaten with runners in scoring position in the second inning, Johnston didn’t allow another Hokie on the basepath.

Jonny Butler delivered a two home run performance, propelling the Wolfpack to a crucial ACC series victory. Butler’s first home run came in the fourth inning, pushing the already sizable NC State lead to eight runs.

Butler then provided the nail in the coffin in the eighth inning, taking a Christian Worley fastball deep out of Dail Park to extend the lead to 11-3.

The second game proved to be much more hotly contested as Virginia Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning after two RBI doubles from Cade Swisher and Nick Biddison.

It was a home run duel between the Hokies’ Tanner Schobel and the Wolfpack’s Tyler McDonough, as they both smashed two home runs.

McDonough capped off an epic 13-pitch battle between him and Hokie reliever Jaison Heard with a moonshot home run to dead center. The long ball cut the Tech lead to one run in the third inning.

The Hokies held the lead late thanks to a pair of RBI doubles from TJ Rumfield and Nick Biddison, but the Wolfpack were determined to sweep their ACC foe.

Jose Torres ripped a double down the left field line in the 7th inning, and on one swing, the one run Hokie lead had shifted to a one run lead in the favor of the Wolfpack.

A sacrifice fly from Devonte Brown added one more in the seventh and despite a Tanner Schobel home run in the ninth, the Wolfpack held on to secure the series sweep.

The Wolfpack have won 10 of their last 12 games as they seem to be peaking at the right time. They head to Boone for a midweek game against Appalachian State before a three-game series against Wake Forest this weekend.

The Hokies return home and look to have a short memory as they welcome ETSU to English Field for a midweek matchup before a weekend series against in-state rival, Virginia.