Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Vaulted into the lead by Ethan Gibson’s two-run home run during the fifth inning on Friday, the Virginia Tech baseball team came within four outs of picking up a series-opening victory against Stanford, despite allowing a big inning late to the Cardinal that ultimately set the Hokies back, 9-7, at English Field.
Gibson’s homer flipped a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead for Virginia Tech (12-12, 4-6 ACC), which held onto its one-run advantage deep into the eighth inning. There, Logan Eisenreich secured two quick outs on four pitches and proceeded to build a 1-2 count against pinch hitter Cort MacDonald, who bounced the right-hander’s ensuing delivery in front of left fielder Nick Locurto and sped to second base for a hustle double.
MacDonald’s two-base hit sparked a turn in momentum for Stanford (12-12, 4-6 ACC), which rallied for five two-out runs against the Hokies.
Ethan Holt continued the inning for the Cardinal, spinning an infield single past Eisenreich that moved MacDonald (the tying run) over to third base. Two pitches later, leadoff first baseman Rintaro Sasaki delivered the game-tying RBI double to left center field, knotting the game at 5-5 while leaving two ducks in scoring position for two-hitter Teddy Tokheim.
Already riding a two-run home run from the first inning, Tokheim punished Virginia Tech with his second homer of the day, carrying Eisenreich’s 3-1 pitch to left field to rush Stanford out to the 8-5 lead. Behind Tokheim’s home run, the Cardinal loaded the bases courtesy of three walks (one intentional), scoring another run on the Hokies’ fourth consecutive walk of the inning.
Virginia Tech squandered a four-hit game from shortstop Pete Daniel, who tied his career high in hits for the third time – the previous two instances having taken place during his 2025 season at Belmont. After Tokheim’s first home run had put Stanford ahead, 2-0, during the top of the first inning, Daniel came through with the game-tying, two-RBI single during the bottom of the second inning, evening the teams early.
Sasaki reinstated the visitors’ lead on the first pitch of the third inning, powering the solo home run to right field that put the Cardinal ahead, 3-2. However, the Hokies charged back during the bottom of the inning as Locurto answered Hudson Lutterman’s leadoff single with his RBI double to the wall in right center field.
Locurto’s double stabilized an up-and-down start for Brendan Yagesh, who held Stanford to three runs on six hits while registering six strikeouts. Yagesh toed four and one-third innings for the Hokies, who turned to Preston Crowl with the bases empty during the top of the fifth inning.
Foreshadowing things to come, Crowl collected a quick second out for Virginia Tech but was unable to shut the door before allowing a solo home run to Charlie Bates. In total, the Cardinal scored six of their nine runs on Friday with two outs while receiving elite production from the top three batters in their lineup (combined 7-for-14, four home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBIs).
Hudson Lutterman went 2-for-5 and scored a pair of runs for Virginia Tech, extending his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games. Henry Cooke (2-for-4) logged his first multi-hit game since March 7 while freshman Willie Hurt walked twice, coming around to score both times.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will play to even the series against Stanford on Saturday, March 28, at English Field. First pitch between the Hokies and the Cardinal is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
REMAINING SERIES PROBABLE STARTERS
• Saturday (March 28): Sam Garewal (0-0, 8.22 ERA) vs. Brett Renfrow (0-3, 7.36 ERA)
• Sunday (March 29): TBA vs. TBA