Friday afternoon, the college baseball season began as all teams began their quest to get to Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series in the middle of June. One year after struggling down the stretch which cost them an NCAA Tournament berth, Virginia Tech was looking to come back in 2025 and put together some early-season success.
Things started well for the Hokies in their season-opener against Bucknell with a 19-0 win in Game 1 on Friday afternoon. Because of weather in the Blacksburg area, Saturday's Game 2 was moved up to later Friday afternoon and the Bison jumped out to an early lead before Virginia Tech rallied to take the lead. In the end, the Bison pushed across three runs in the top of the seventh to grab an 8-6 victory to split the doubleheader. Game 3 will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Virginia Tech splits doubleheader with Bucknell
In the opener, the Hokies pounded out 18 hits on their way to 19 runs. There was only one home run in the game from Treyson Hughes as the Hokies doubled and singled the Bison pitching staff all over English Field. They plated four runs in the first inning and rode the arm of Brett Renfrow who struck out six, walked three, and allowed one hit on 70 pitches in four innings.
Then Game 2 happened.
The Bison, to their credit, jumped out to a 4-0 lead and watched the Hokies rally for a 6-4 lead, then in the top of the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded, a misplayed fly-ball turned into a three-run triple for an 8-6 lead, which was the final. Virginia Tech was held to just two hits after the fourth inning.
Going into the season, the pitching staff was going to be a big question behind Renfrow, and early on, it appears it's still a question mark. Now the Hokies are left with trying to win the series on Sunday afternoon.