Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Pairing Sam Grube’s walk-off, two-RBI single during Saturday’s doubleheader opener with more spectacular pitching during game two, the Virginia Tech baseball team found the right formula to sweeping its twin bill (and three-game series) against William & Mary, coming away with the 8-7 and 8-2 victories at English Field.
GAME ONE – Virginia Tech 8, William & Mary 7
After accounting for three doubles (career high) during Friday’s season opener, Grube dismissed his 0-for-4 start to Saturday’s action with one game-changing swing during the bottom of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded, one out and the Hokies trailing, 7-6, Grube hugged the left field line with his soft line drive that escaped the Tribe’s three converging defenders, dying perfectly on the turf to score Ethan Gibson comfortably from second base as the game’s winning run.
Virginia Tech (2-0) had been trailing, 4-3, at the seventh inning stretch when the Hokies received a first-pitch single from Henry Cooke that appeared to turn the tide in the home team’s favor. Attempting his second inning of relief work, right-hander Derrick Baker met his demise by issuing walks to Owen Petrich and Ethan Ball on nine combined pitches, loading the bases and sending William & Mary (0-2) further into its bullpen to deal with Hudson Lutterman.
Working the count full against left-hander Tom Bourque, Lutterman ripped the go-ahead, bases-clearing double down the left field line, pinballing it into the corner to flip the score in Virginia Tech’s direction at 6-4.
Lutterman’s clutch hit gave Logan Eisenreich a little breathing room as he returned to pitch the eighth inning, where he stranded William & Mary’s potential tying runners on base. However, his bid to win was quickly thwarted during the ninth inning by two loud swings from the Tribe’s leadoff men – a two-strike double by Jamie Laskofski that was followed by Trey Christman’s game-tying, two-run homer that carried 414 feet to left field.
William & Mary rallied for the 7-6 lead against relievers Brendan Yagesh and Luke Craytor without a ball leaving the infield. With Eisenreich out, Louie Bartletti turned a seven-pitch walk from Yagesh into the Tribe’s go-ahead run, stealing second base and later scoring on Connor Chavez’s RBI single up the third base line.
Grube’s late-game heroics buried the headlining return of right-hand starter Griffin Stieg, who made his first Virginia Tech appearance since May 2024 after missing the 2025 season due to injury. Stieg scattered three hits and recorded four strikeouts through four and two-thirds innings, exiting the at-bat before Laskofski hit a three-run home run off Aiden Robertson, putting William & Mary ahead, 3-0, during the fifth inning.
Gibson helped the Hokies respond immediately, belting a leadoff single that sparked a big inning for the hosts. Walks to Treyson Hughes and Grube soon loaded the bases, from which Virginia Tech plated three runs, including the game-tying, RBI single by Ethan Ball.
Laskofski and Christman co-led William & Mary with three RBIs apiece during the opening game while eight of the Tribe’s 11 hits came from the top four batters in their lineup.
GAME TWO – Virginia Tech 8, William & Mary 2
Relying on newcomer youth and experience, Virginia Tech (3-0) pitched its way past William & Mary (0-3) during Saturday’s finale, combining for 11 strikeouts on the mound while holding the visitors to two runs on five hits.
Making his collegiate debut, right-hand starter Ethan Grim struck out six batters through four innings of work, recovering nicely from the RBI double he surrendered to Louie Bartletti during the top of the first inning. Grim finished his outing with three scoreless innings, matching the same scoreless contribution from senior transfer right-hander Ben Weber (Xavier), who allowed one hit and threw 21 strikes on 26 pitches in the winning effort.
Owen Petrich broke the game’s 1-1 tie during the bottom of the first inning, going the opposite way with his two-run homer to right field. Petrich’s first home run in Virginia Tech colors marked the Hokies’ only run-scoring hit of game two as the offense manufactured its remaining six runs from a sacrifice fly, two RBI fielder’s choice at-bats and three bases-loaded walks.
As he had done during game one, Lutterman connected on a double during game two and also walked twice for Virginia Tech, which drew 13 total walks off William & Mary pitching during the finale. Pete Daniel drew four walks alone off the Tribe staff, finishing one shy of tying the program’s all-time, single-game record.
Virginia Tech’s 4-1 lead after two innings of play held into the sixth inning, where the Hokies added four runs, including three consecutive bases-loaded walks by Lutterman, Ethan Gibson and Daniel.
Josh Berzonski and Peyton Smith brought Virginia Tech across the finish line, tossing the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Berzonski allowed a second run-scoring hit by William & Mary’s Bartletti while Smith struck out three batters in succession to end the game.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will host ETSU on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at English Field. First pitch between the Hokies and the Buccaneers is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.