CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Coming back from five runs down to introduce the game's potential tying run during the ninth inning on Saturday, the Virginia Tech baseball team showed late fight at No. 15 North Carolina, despite dropping the middle game of the teams' three-game series, 6-3, at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium.
Junior second baseman Christian Martin went 2-for-2 while reaching base four times to lead Tech's offense, connecting on the two-run home run during the eighth inning that set the final score. Martin's sixth homer of the season marked the Hokies' lone extra-base hit of the day – the high point during Tech's six-hit afternoon.
Freshman right-hander Brett Renfrow did all he could to keep Virginia Tech (26-14, 12-11 ACC) competitive, holding North Carolina (33-10, 17-6 ACC) to two runs through his first five innings on the bump. Unfortunately, Renfrow was hit twice by Parks Harber (single) and Luke Stevenson (double) at the start of the sixth inning, setting up a three-run inning for the Tar Heels that practically decided the contest.
Ultimately, Renfrow lasted five and one-third innings, allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out five batters while walking three. Tech's rookie ace tabled trouble on several occasions, stranding runners at the corners during the first inning and using a 4-6-3 double play by the Hokies' infield to squash a jam during the second inning.
Virginia Tech started strong, loading the bases three batters into the first inning against left-hand starter Shea Sprague. However, the Hokies were held to one run as cleanup hitter Eddie Micheletti Jr. grounded into a 4-6-3 double play (plating Martin) – one of four twin-killings flipped by the Tar Heels on Saturday.
Tech's lead was good until the third inning when UNC took a couple of loud swings off Renfrow. Vance Honeycutt belted a one-out double to center field before Casey Cook cashed in a two-run home run to right field, shooting the home side ahead for the first time at 2-1.
Grady and Martin tagged leadoff base hits during the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, though the Hokies were unable to push the tying run across behind either of them. With Renfrow exiting to trouble early during the sixth inning, southpaw reliever David Shoemaker could not quite close the door on the Tar Heels, surrendering back-to-back RBI singles to Alex Madera and Gavin Gallaher as well as an RBI squeeze bunt to Colby Wilkerson.
After Martin's homer during the eighth inning had pulled Tech within three runs, the Hokies laid the foundation for a game-tying rally during the ninth inning. Carson DeMartini drew a five-pitch walk off Connor Bovair, two batters before Grady threaded an 0-2 pitch through the left side of the infield, bringing the game's potential tying run to the plate with one out.
However, UNC closer Dalton Pence needed four pitches to stifle the Hokies' rally, inducing a line drive out from Henry Cooke and a three-pitch strikeout of David McCann.
Eight North Carolina starters recorded at least one hit with Honeycutt (2-for-2) and Madera (2-for-4) leading the way. Sprague lasted six and two-thirds innings pitched for the Tar Heels, registering six strikeouts while holding Tech to a run on four hits.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will look to leave Chapel Hill with a victory during its series finale at No. 15 North Carolina on Sunday, April 28. First pitch between the Hokies and the Tar Heels is scheduled for 1 p.m.