Virginia Tech drops to 7-2 with loss to Texas A&M. Read more below.
— For five innings Friday night, Virginia Tech looked capable of going punch-for-punch with one of the nation’s premier programs. One inning later, the game had flipped completely. “We played pretty clean baseball for about five and a half innings,” Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc said.
“There were a couple lapses, but for the most part we were fine. We didn’t make pitches in the sixth, and it just blew up.” The Hokies were within striking distance early behind right-hander Brett Renfrow, who delivered his sharpest outing of the young season. Renfrow worked five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven. “He was good,” Szefc said. “He made pitches when he had to. It’s a good step in the right direction for him.” Renfrow’s only major errore came in the first inning when Chris Hacopian launched a 424-foot solo home run to left-center to give Texas A&M a 1-0 lead. From there, Renfrow settled in, striking out two in the third and picking off a runner in the second to erase traffic after a balk. The Aggies scratched across another run in the fourth, aided by a throwing error that extended the inning before Terrence Kiel II delivered an RBI single to make it 2-0. Offensively, Virginia Tech had opportunities but struggled to capitalize. The Hokies finished with five hits, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base. “You’ve got to think a lot of these guys have hit before,” Szefc said of the recent offensive struggles. “You go with your guys, keep getting them at-bats, and you’ve just got to hope they come around.” Freshman Ethan Ball doubled in the first and advanced to third on a wild pitch but was stranded. In the fourth, Hudson Lutterman walked and Nick Locurto singled before swiping second to put two in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the threat.Preston Crowl entered and issued a leadoff walk before Jake Duer doubled to put two in scoring position. A sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 3-0, and a wild pitch made it 4-0. From there, the inning spiraled. Texas A&M plated eight runs in the frame, highlighted by Caden Sorrell’s two-run ground-rule double and back-to-back RBI doubles from Blake Binderup and Duer. “If you’re going to compete with and beat people like that, you’ve got to elevate what you’re doing offensively, defensively and on the mound,” Szefc said. “We did that for a little while, but the game turned real fast and we weren’t able to do it, and it was over.” Virginia Tech attempted to answer in the seventh after Locurto led off with a single, but a groundout, flyout and groundout ended the game via run rule.“It’s actually good for us,” he said of the quick turnaround. “We get to come back and play early tomorrow. The quicker you get back out there, the better off you are rather than sitting around.” For five innings, the Hokies proved they could hang. One explosive frame proved how slim the margin is against elite competition. “If we’re able to elevate what we’re doing tomorrow, we’ll be in the game,” Szefc said. “If we’re not, we won’t. It’s really simple.”Joshua Poslusny - who goes by Poz - is a Radford University sophomore in the School of Communication. He graduated from Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi in 2024. He has previously done work for The Tech Lunch Pail, Tech Sideline, and Sons of Saturday, among others. He specializes in baseball coverage, which he has been doing for the last year. He also has experience covering football, basketball, and softball.A Statement Opportunity: What's At Stake For Virginia Tech In The Globe Life ClassicVanderbilt vs. Kentucky Prediction, Odds for College Basketball on Saturday, Feb. 28
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Three Keys for Virginia Tech vs. No. 16 North CarolinaThe Hokies look to bring their record back to .500 in league play tomorrow evening.
Read more »
Former Lake Dallas High School Star QB Sued for $1 Million After Joining Texas TechThe new Texas Tech player was the top QB in the transfer portal, and his old school isn't happy about it and wants $1 million in damages.
Read more »
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez represents perfect fit for Broncos defenseThe combine workout confirmed what he put on film at Texas Tech. Rodriguez operated as Vin Diesel in the Red Raiders’ defense. He was fast and often furious.
Read more »
Despite Missing Caleb Wilson, North Carolina Remains A Formidable Foe For Virginia TechIt is a big weekend for Virginia Tech Basketball. The Hokies have had a full week to prepare for a road showdown with No. 18 North Carolina and there is a lot
Read more »
Even Without Caleb Wilson, UNC Poses Potent Test for Virginia TechWilson averages 19.8 points per game, but hasn't played since Feb. 10.
Read more »
No. 23 Texas A&M Aggies vs. Virginia Tech Hokies: Live Updates, Box ScoreFollow along as Texas A&M takes on Virginia Tech in their first game of the AmegyBank College Baseball Series.
Read more »