Virginia Tech baseball survives a major bullpen meltdown to nip nationally-ranked Louisville

One issue and concern facing the Virginia Tech baseball team early in the season has been the struggles of their bullpen. Two weeks ago in their ACC series opener, they held a 3-2 lead going into the top of the ninth after Hunter Renfrow was excellent, but two walks and a hit later, Georgia Tech rallied for a 4-3 victory in Game 1.

Friday afternoon at English Field, the Hokies once again got a masterful pitching performance from Renfrow against No. 16 Louisville. The right-hander went seven innings, scattering nine hits, walking one striking out three, and allowing one unearned run. He left with his team up 5-1 and needed just six outs from his bullpen to pick up a huge early-season win over a ranked opponent. Easier said than done in 2025.

After getting the first out in the top of the ninth, the Hokies made things too interesting. Infield singles and three walks later, the Cardinals had the deficit down to 5-4 with only one out. However, head coach John Szefc called on his third pitcher of the frame, Cameron LeJeune and after issuing a bases-loaded walk, he got a strike out and ground out to seal the win for Virginia Tech.

Sam Tackett blasts two home runs to power Virginia Tech's offense

While Renfrow was dealing on the bump, Sam Tackett took care of nearly all of the Hokies offense. In the bottom of the first, he launched a two-run homer, then in the bottom of the sixth, he picked up his second two-run shot of the game for a 4-0 lead.

After Tackett's second home run of the game in the sixth, the Hokies added what would turn out to be a huge game-winning run when Garret Michel was hit-by-a-pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Hudson Lutterman RBI double for a 5-0 lead.

Virginia Tech improved to 15-7 overall and 3-4 in the ACC and will look to win the series on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Game 2. Game 3 will be at 1 o'clock on Sunday.