NO. 24 VIRGINIA TECH SCORES NINE UNANSWERED TO TAKE DOWN NO. 25 UNC

Nick Cheshire

March 6, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. — In front of a small but electric home crowd of 700 fans, No. 24 Virginia Tech gutted out an impressive come-from-behind 10-6 victory over No. 25 North Carolina on Friday afternoon in the first installment of the three-game weekend series.

The Hokies (6-1, 3-1 ACC) stormed back during a massive, seven-run fifth inning to defeat the Tar Heels (6-2, 2-2 ACC), teeing off on UNC’s impressive pitching staff, including ace Austin Love, who entered the game with a 2-0 record and a 1.35 ERA.

In the top of the fifth, North Carolina stretched the lead to 6-1 behind a three-run home run from Caleb Roberts, his second of the afternoon. Roberts was the primary source of offense for the Tar Heels, going 2-4 with two homers and 4 RBIs.

After the demoralizing top half of the inning, Tech was incredibly resilient, responding with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. Once the Hokies knocked Love out of the game, they went to work on the Carolina bullpen.

Tanner Schobel’s clutch triple off the center field wall tied the game at six, which was immediately followed up by a monstrous two-run home run from Cade Hunter to give Tech the 8-6 lead. Schobel finished 2-3 with two RBIs while Hunter finished 2-4, also with two RBIs.

Leading off the sixth, Jake Hurley’s solo shot easily cleared the right-center wall to extend the margin to 9-6. Gavin Cross doubled to right and was driven in by Kevin Madden to give the Hokies a commanding 10-6 lead. Cross had a big day at the plate for Virginia Tech, going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs.

Once the Hokies took the lead, the bullpen was rock solid. After entering the game in the sixth, Jaison Heard delivered two and a third scoreless innings, striking out five. Shane Connolly took over with one out in the eighth, and got all five outs he needed via strikeout, recording his fourth save of the young season.

Virginia Tech’s starting pitcher, Peyton Alford, gave up three earned runs on only two hits and struck out 10 in four and a third, registering a no decision on the day. Ryan Okuda (2-0), who finished the fifth inning, got his second victory of the season for the Hokies while Nik Pry (0-1) took the loss for the Tar Heels.

The two teams meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. and for the final time in the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. On Saturday, Max Carlson (2-0) will take the mound for the Tar Heels against Virginia Tech’s Chris Gerard (1-1).