Article

Hokies Rally After Back-to-Back Defeats

Thomas Disharoon·March 11, 2026

Georgia Tech Powers Past Virginia Tech 16–1 in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga dominant first inning set the tone Friday night as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets erupted for eight early runs and rolled to a 16–1 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Georgia Tech’s offense produced 13 hits and 16 runs, capitalizing on early opportunities and applying constant pressure throughout the game to secure the decisive win.

Hokies Threaten Early

Virginia Tech showed signs of promise to begin the game.

Center fielder Treyson Hughes opened the contest with a single, and left fielder Nick Locurto followed with another base hit to give the Hokies back-to-back singles to start the first inning. Despite the quick start and early traffic on the bases, Virginia Tech was unable to push a run across.

Yellow Jackets Break the Game Open

Georgia Tech wasted little time taking control in the bottom of the first inning with a relentless offensive outburst.

Kent Schmidt ignited the scoring with a two-RBI single up the middle that brought home Drew Burress and Jarren Advincula. Ryan Zuckerman followed with an RBI single to shallow center field, and Caleb Daniel continued the rally with a single up the middle that drove in two more runs.

The momentum continued as Carson Kerce added an RBI single through the left side, Drew Burress knocked in another run with a base hit, and Advincula capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.

By the end of the inning, the Yellow Jackets held a commanding 8–0 lead.

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Virginia Tech Gets on the Board

The Hokies broke through in the second inning for their lone run of the game.

Right fielder Sam Gates reached base and later scored when designated hitter Anderson French lined a double down the right-field line. The extra-base hit brought Gates home and moved Henry Cooke to third, putting Virginia Tech on the scoreboard.

Georgia Tech Continues to Build the Lead

Georgia Tech continued to add to its lead in the third inning. Ryan Zuckerman drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Will Baker followed with a key hit down the left-field line that drove in two runs. A throwing error on the play allowed an additional run to score.

Later in the inning, Carson Kerce added another RBI with a single through the left side, extending the lead to 13–1.

The Yellow Jackets continued their offensive surge in the fifth inning when Kerce doubled to left-center field to bring in another run. Georgia Tech added one more run on a defensive error later in the game..

Drew Rogers capped the scoring in the sixth inning with an RBI single up the middle.

Hokies Limited at the Plate

Virginia Tech finished with five hits but struggled to generate sustained offense against the Georgia Tech pitching staff.

French’s RBI double in the second inning provided the Hokies’ biggest offensive highlight.

Other Hokies recording hits included Treyson Hughes, Nick Locurto, Ethan Ball, and Ethan Gibson. Virginia Tech drew three walks but struck out nine times.

Strong Night on the Mound for Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech also received a solid performance from its pitching staff.

Starter Tate McKee worked three innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three. Carson Ballard followed with three scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory, limiting Virginia Tech to just one hit while striking out five. Kayden Campbell closed out the game with a clean inning.

Hokies Turn to the Bullpen

Virginia Tech used multiple pitchers in an effort to slow Georgia Tech’s offense.

Ethan Grim took the loss after allowing seven runs in the opening inning. Preston Crowl, Josh Berzonski, Jake Wise, Danny Lazaro, and Tyler Stone each appeared in relief.

As a staff, the Hokies allowed 13 hits, 16 runs, and 12 walks across six innings.

Virginia Tech

Runs: 1
Hits: 5
Errors: 3
Strikeouts: 9

Georgia Tech

Runs: 16
Hits: 13
Walks: 12

Key Performers Georgia Tech

Carson Kerce: 3 hits, 3 RBI
Ryan Zuckerman: 2 hits, 2 RBI
Kent Schmidt: 2 RBI
Will Baker: 2 RBI

Up Next

Virginia Tech will look to bounce back as the series against Georgia Tech continues in Atlanta. The Hokies will aim to regroup offensively and find more consistency on the mound in the remaining games of the series.

Georgia Tech’s Seventh-Inning Surge Powers, 14–5 Win Over Virginia Tech

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets exploded offensively to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies 14–5 in a game that completely flipped after the fifth innings. Georgia Tech scored nine runs across the 7th and 8th innings, turning a Virginia Tech lead into a decisive Georgia Tech victory.

Virginia Tech briefly held momentum in the fifth inning with a four-run rally, but Georgia Tech’s lineup answered immediately and then unleashed a home-run barrage late to pull away.

Early Momentum: Georgia Tech Strikes First

Georgia Tech opened the scoring in the 1st inning when Kent Schmidt singled to right center, driving in Alex Hernandez while Jarren Advincula advanced to third.

In the 3rd inning, Hernandez added to the lead by launching a solo home run to deep center field, giving the Yellow Jackets a 2–0 advantage.

Hokies’ Fifth-Inning Surge

Virginia Tech finally broke through in the 5th inning.

Henry Cooke hit a solo home run to left field to cut the deficit to 2–1.
Moments later, Ethan Ball delivered an RBI single that tied the game while two runs scored due to defensive miscues.
Sam Grube followed with an RBI single.
Hudson Lutterman capped the rally with an RBI double.

The four-run inning put the Hokies ahead 5–2 and appeared to swing the game in their favor.

Georgia Tech Responds Immediately

Georgia Tech answered in the bottom half of the same inning.

Vahn Lackey ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Hernandez and Advincula.
Ryan Zuckerman then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Lackey home and tying the game 5–5.

Seventh-Inning Explosion

The game turned decisively in the 7th inning, when Georgia Tech’s offense erupted for eight runs.

Key highlights included:

Vahn Lackey crushed a two-run homer to deep right field.
Ryan Zuckerman followed with a two-run homer to left field.
Will Baker added another solo homer to deep right.
Caleb Daniel launched a solo shot to deep right field.
RBI singles from Lackey and Schmidt continued the rally.

By the end of the inning, Georgia Tech had blown the game open 13–5.

Insurance in the Eighth

The Yellow Jackets added one final run in the 8th inning when Caleb Daniel hit his second home run of the game, pushing the lead to 14–5.

Offensive Standouts

Georgia Tech’s lineup dominated with 18 hits.

Vahn Lackey — 3-for-4, 5 RBIs, home run, double
Kent Schmidt — 4-for-4, 2 RBIs
Caleb Daniel — 2 home runs, 2 RBIs
Alex Hernandez — 2-for-4, home run, 3 runs scored
Ryan Zuckerman — 3 RBIs including a two-run homer

Virginia Tech recorded 11 hits.

Henry Cooke — 2 hits, home run
Sam Grube — 2 hits, RBI
Ethan Ball — 2 hits, RBI

Pitching Summary

For Georgia Tech, Caden Gaudette earned the win after relieving starter Dylan Loy, who allowed just one earned run despite giving up five total runs due to defensive errors.

Virginia Tech starter Brett Renfrow pitched five innings before the Hokies’ bullpen struggled late. Chase Swift took the loss after allowing four runs without recording an out during Georgia Tech’s seventh-inning rally.

✅ Final Score: Georgia Tech 14, Virginia Tech 5

Virginia Tech Rallies Past No. 3 Georgia Tech, 9–6, Behind Late Offensive Surge

ATLANTA The Virginia Tech Hokies baseball erased a late deficit with a six-run outburst over the final four innings to defeat the No. 3 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball, 9–6, on March 8 at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Virginia Tech (8–7, 1–2 ACC) pounded out 14 hits and capitalized on timely hitting with runners in scoring position to secure the comeback victory over Georgia Tech (14–2, 2–1 ACC).

Fast Start for the Hokies

The Hokies jumped ahead early in the first inning. After two runners reached base, Sam Grube drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Treyson Hughes. Moments later, Hudson Lutterman added another sacrifice fly to bring home Nick Locurto, giving Virginia Tech a quick 2–0 lead.

Yellow Jackets Respond

Georgia Tech answered in the second inning when Ryan Zuckerman launched a two-run home run to right field to tie the game. The Yellow Jackets later took the lead in the third inning after Carson Kerce drew a bases-loaded walk that forced in a run.

The Hokies briefly tied the score in the fourth on Locurto’s RBI single, but Georgia Tech regained the lead when Vahn Lackey crushed a solo home run to left field.

Georgia Tech extended its advantage in the fifth inning with RBI singles from Drew Burress and Alex Hernandez, building a 6–3 lead.

Hokies Rally in the Sixth

Virginia Tech began its comeback in the sixth inning. Ethan Ball delivered a clutch two-run double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to one. Lutterman followed with an RBI single to center, tying the game at 6–6.

Seventh-Inning Breakthrough

The Hokies took control in the seventh inning. Owen Petrich led off with a double, setting the stage for the go-ahead run when Hughes grounded out to bring him home.

Later in the inning, Grube delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring Pete Daniel and Sam Gates to push Virginia Tech ahead 9–6.

Strong Finish on the Mound

Reliever Luke Craytor earned the win after recording two key outs in the sixth inning. Closer Preston Crowl dominated over the final three innings, striking out four and allowing no hits to secure the save.

Virginia Tech finished 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while Georgia Tech struggled to convert opportunities, going just 2-for-9.

Key Performers

Sam Grube (VT): 3-for-3, double, 3 RBI
Nick Locurto (VT): 2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI, 2 walks
Ethan Ball (VT): 2-for-5, double, 2 RBI
Ryan Zuckerman (GT): 2-for-3, home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Vahn Lackey (GT): home run, RBI

Game Notes

Virginia Tech recorded 14 hits compared to Georgia Tech’s eight.
Both teams left 11 runners on base.
Attendance at the game was 2,010, with the contest lasting 5 hours and 47 minutes.

The Hokies’ late offensive explosion proved decisive as they knocked off the top-ranked ACC opponent on the road, showing resilience after trailing midway through the game.

Thomas Disharoon

Baseball & Women's Basketball Beat Reporter

I was born in Richmond, Virginia. My first football game was the spring game in 2023. I have been a longtime Virginia Tech fan. I am currently a student at Virginia Tech, majoring in Communications.