Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Showcasing its most complementary game of the young 2025 season on Wednesday afternoon, the Virginia Tech baseball team dealt 16 strikeouts on the mound and batted hits from all nine of its offensive starters as the Hokies trumped James Madison, 7-2, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Redshirt-senior outfielder Sam Tackett broke the game’s 2-2 tie during the bottom of the sixth inning as Virginia Tech (6-2) brought eight batters to the plate, pushing two runs across to pull away with its final lead. With Garrett Michel as the go-ahead runner on third base, Tackett cracked an RBI single through the right side of the infield for his third knock of the day, chalking his fourth multi-hit performance through his first eight games played this season.
Making his first start of the spring, junior catcher Henry Cooke made his presence known with two run-scoring at-bats, bringing home Tackett during the sixth inning with his RBI single before providing the dagger during the seventh inning – a three-run home run lobbed over the field fence. Cooke, easing back into the Hokies’ lineup while coming off a fall injury, finished 2-for-4 at the plate, threw out a runner stealing and caught 14 strikeouts – 11 of which were recorded by newcomer arms.
Freshman right-hander Marcel Kulik set a rookie season high with five strikeouts, as earned in succession during the third and fourth innings. Kulik picked up a brief midweek start by fellow Parker Sweeney, who allowed singles during the second inning by Corey Dowdell and Eli Steadman to manifest into a two-RBI double by catcher Creed Erdos.
James Madison (4-4) carried its 2-1 lead into the bottom of the second inning, where Jackson Cherry began a home rally by dropping down a bunt single against starter Casey Smith. After Tackett had punched a base hit through the left side, Cherry darted to third base while the Dukes turned a timely 6-4-3 double play, scoring the game’s tying run as Clay Grady belted an RBI single into right field.
Mathieu Curtis continued Virginia Tech’s bullpen mastery, earning the win upon going two and one-third innings, striking out five batters while walking one. All told, the Hokies’ bullpen combined to pitch seven and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing two hits while registering 15 strikeouts.