Entering the final weekend of the regular season, there is a lot on the line for the Virginia Tech baseball team when it comes to both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Not only are the Hokies playing for seeding in next weekend's conference tournament in Charlotte, but they are looking to stay on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The final ACC series is in Blacksburg; however, it's not an easy one. The Hokies are hosting a Clemson team that is better than its record indicates. They were 9-18 in the ACC going into Thursday night's series opener, but they have 30 overall wins. Their RPI was one spot better than Virginia Tech's at No. 38 going into the opener at English Field.
However, Tigers coach Erik Bakich knows that an at-large bid is likely out of the question for his team when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, when the field is selected on Memorial Day. Clemson's likely only path into the 64-team field is by winning the ACC Tournament. That will be easier said than done, as they are going to be playing on the opening day.
Not many teams have enough arms to navigate that type of need. Bakich is playing around with his rotation this weekend so that he can line things up with his top starters beginning the tournament. It was as close to a bullpen game as you can get in the opener, while Virginia Tech coach John Szefc went with his ace, Brent Renfrow. That move paid off.
Virginia Tech wins Game 1 against Clemson
Needing to win another ACC series, the Hokies got off on the right foot on Thursday night behind Renfrow in a 5-1 victory. Tech plated a run in the bottom of the first, then put up four in the bottom of the sixth for a 5-0 lead before Clemson got one back in the seventh for the final run of the night.
Renfrow was masterful, going 7.1 innings, allowing one run, scattering six hits, and striking out five. He gave way to Preston Crowl with one out in the eighth inning, and he retired all five batters he faced, two by strikeout. Owen Petrich highlighted a four-run sixth inning with a two-run home run to left field with two outs for a 5-0 Hokies advantage.
𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝙄𝙏 🔨@OwenPetrich hammers his fifth home run of the season for the 5-0 lead (E6)#Hokies 🦃⚾️ pic.twitter.com/SMzjhbz7ff
— Virginia Tech Baseball (@HokiesBaseball) May 14, 2026
The series will continue on Friday afternoon with Game 2 at 3 p.m., before the series concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m. Virginia Tech is 28-22 overall and pulled even in the ACC at 14-14. Two big games remaining. Splitting and finishing .500 in the ACC would be huge for Szefc and his team. The Hokies' recipe for success was one display strong pitching and timely hitting.
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