Virginia Tech baseball blasts five home runs to even series with North Carolina

After dropping four consecutive ACC games, the Virginia Tech baseball team was frustrated following a Game 1 loss against 12th-ranked North Carolina on Friday night in Blacksburg. That conference loss came after the Hokies were swept at home by Florida State last weekend.

After a 9-6 loss to the Tar Heels in the opening game, Virginia Tech came out ready to go on Saturday afternoon in Game 2. They were looking to make an early statement against an outstanding pitcher in UNC's Aidan Haugh. Not many teams have gotten him the right-hander this year, but the Hokies did early and often.

Three first-inning home runs from Virginia Tech, a two-run blast by Henry Cooke, and another two-run dinger from Sam Tackett made it 4-0, and things got a little testy. Tackett had a bat-flip toward the UNC dugout and exchanged words with Tar Heels' catcher Luke Stevenson as he was trotting down the first base line. Umpires issued warnings to both teams, then David McCann hit a solo home run for a 5-0 lead before the third out was recorded.

North Carolina had a three-run double in the top of the second to cut the deficit to 5-3, but in the bottom of the inning, Ben Watson hit a two-run homer for a 7-3 Hokies lead and ended the day for Haugh. He went just 1.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs, six hits, and four home runs.

Every time UNC cut into the Hokies' lead, Virginia Tech was able to respond, and Jared Davis hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth for a four-run lead. Jake Marciano worked the first 4.2 innings for Tech, allowing seven hits, four runs, and striking out six. Grant Manning went 4.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits, two runs, and fanning four.

After splitting the first two games, the rubber match in Game 3 will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Virginia Tech improved to 25-14 overall and 10-10 in the ACC after its seventh-ranked victory of the season. UNC fell to 30-9 overall and 12-8 in the ACC.