Brett RenfrowBrett Renfrow
Baseball

Hokies ousted from ACC Baseball Championship by Clemson, 6-1

Ben Watson hit a leadoff home run during the first at-bat of Wednesday's second round game while Virginia Tech starter Brett Renfrow tied his collegiate strikeouts high (10)

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – Despite Ben Watson homering during the first at-bat of Wednesday’s ballgame, the 12th-seeded Virginia Tech baseball team was kept without a scoring play the rest of the way against fifth-seeded Clemson as the Hokies were eliminated from the 2025 ACC Baseball Championship with their 6-1 loss during the second round at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Watson saw four pitches from 2025 All-ACC First Team starting pitcher Aidan Knaak before pulling the fifth pitch of his game-opening plate appearance into the right field bleachers. With one swing, the sixth-year collegiate outfielder pushed his season-ending hitting streak to 21 consecutive games, extending his personal best mark with the Hokies.

Staking the 1-0 lead, Virginia Tech (31-25) fell behind during the bottom of the first inning as Clemson (42-15) connected on three hits – including two landing for extra bases – while scoring three runs to claim the 3-1 lead. Cam Cannarella cracked a leadoff double against sophomore right-hander Brett Renfrow, who conceded a run to the Tigers on a wild pitch before allowing a two-out, two-run homer to Dominic Listi.

Renfrow weathered a talented Clemson lineup, posting zeros through the fourth inning until the Tigers rallied for two insurance runs during the bottom of the fifth inning. With a runner already aboard, Collin Priest reached easily on his bunt single, two batters before Listi drove a two-out, two-RBI double to the warning track in left center field.

Giving his all, Renfrow threw five and one-third innings for Virginia Tech, though was responsible for allowing eight hits and each of Clemson’s six runs. The All-ACC Third Team selection tied his collegiate high for strikeouts, accounting for 10 of the Hokies’ 14 total punchouts.

Brendan Yagesh and Mathieu Curtis toes the final two and two-thirds scoreless innings for Virginia Tech with Curtis registering four strikeouts. Henry Cooke went 2-for-3 for the Hokies behind the thunder of Watson’s home run while Clay Grady produced the team’s fourth and final hit during the fifth inning.