Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Witnessing the ACC arrival of true freshman ace Brett Renfrow on Friday afternoon, the Virginia Tech baseball team opened conference play with a statement victory as the Hokies barreled by Notre Dame, 11-3, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Renfrow struck out 10 Irish batters through eight innings on the mound, notching rookie season highs in both categories. The right-hander from Manassas, Virginia, remained undeterred after surrendering an unearned run during the top of the first inning, scattering three hits and walking one en route to his fourth consecutive season-opening victory.
Offensively, Renfrow received the most support from senior right fielder Eddie Micheletti Jr., who went 3-for-4 and sported five RBIs to pace the Hokies. Micheletti's RBI double during the first inning helped Tech claim its first lead at 2-1 while his punishing grand slam during the bottom of the sixth inning invited Renfrow to keep dealing further than he had ever gone in a college game before.
Eight starters combined to swing 16 hits for Virginia Tech (9-3, 1-0 ACC), which won its ACC opener for the third time during the last four seasons. The Hokies received additional three-hit contributions from leadoff batter Christian Martin (3-for-4) and nine-hitter Clay Grady (3-for-4) as well as a pair of 2-for-5 outings by third baseman Carson DeMartini and center fielder Ben Watson.
Notre Dame (9-3, 0-1 ACC) capitalized on Renfrow's game-opening walk to Jack Penney, who stole second base, took 90 more feet on an errant throw and scored on a sacrifice fly by Connor Hincks.
However, Tech greeted visiting starter Ricky Reeth with hard contact during the bottom of the first inning, where the first four Hokies ultimately reached base. After Martin was hit by Reeth's 1-0 delivery to open the inning, back-to-back singles by DeMartini and Cannizzaro knotted the game at 1-1 before Micheletti doubled to the wall in right field, putting the Hokies on top.
Virginia Tech added a third run during the first inning and went back to work during the bottom of the second inning. There, two batters after Henry Cooke's infield single had led off the inning, Martin rocketed his RBI double down the right field line, cushioning the Hokies' lead at 4-1.
Renfrow retired the Irish in order during five of his eight innings on the mound, despite conceding runs back to the Irish during the third and fifth innings. Joey Spence singled to lead off the third inning and later scored on David Glancy's RBI knock while Brady Gumpf doubled to open the fifth inning, later scoring on a squeeze bunt by TJ Williams.
Tech pulled out all the stops against Notre Dame, chalking a run on a double steal executed by Watson and David McCann during the third inning. Grady's leadoff triple to start the fourth inning resulted in him scoring on Martin's ensuing RBI single, extending the Hokies' lead at the time to 6-2.
In total, Virginia Tech managed to put its leadoff batter aboard during six of its eight offensive innings. Martin, DeMartini and Cannizzaro all reached consecutively to load the bases during the bottom of the sixth inning, setting the table for Micheletti to unleash his towering grand slam that all but clinched the outcome for the Hokies.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will look to string consecutive ACC-opening victories together on Saturday, March 9, when the Hokies host the middle of three games against Notre Dame. First pitch at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 6 p.m. (previously 4 p.m.).
Gallery: (3-8-2024) BSB: Notre Dame Game 1