Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Plating three runs during the first inning on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team controlled the early lead against Liberty despite being tripped up by a pair of big innings during its 11-4 loss to the Flames at English Field.
Junior left fielder Nick Locurto went 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot, improving his hitting streak to eight consecutive games while reaching base for the 13th game in a row. Two pitches into the first inning, Locurto’s single through the left side sparked a three-run, three-hit opening statement by the Hokies that vaulted them in front, 3-1.
Virginia Tech (15-16) witnessed the return of southpaw Madden Clement, who made his first collegiate pitching appearance since February 2025 when he had sustained a season-ending injury. Clement faced five batters, walking three, before turning the keys over to left-hander Chase Swift, who dealt two and two-thirds scoreless innings for the Hokies, nursing their two-run advantage into the fourth inning.
There, Liberty (23-9) managed to bring 10 batters to the plate, flipping the ballgame into its favor courtesy of its six-run rally.
After issuing a pair of one-out walks to the Flames, left-hander Brody Roe allowed Tanner Marsh to swing a fly ball that tracked deeper than right fielder Sam Grube’s range, bouncing down and over the outfield wall for an RBI, ground-rule double. With two runners in scoring position, Riley DeCandido proceeded to bat Roe’s ensuing pitch into center field for the go-ahead, two-RBI single that put the Hokies behind, 4-3.
Liberty continued to find success against the Virginia Tech bullpen as Jordan Jaffe greeted incoming reliever Jacob Exum with a line drive into right field that, coupled with a misread by Grube, led to another table-setting double. After Exum’s walk of Jaxon Sorenson had loaded the bases, Nick Barone drove his bases-clearing double down the left field line, shooting the Flames out to the 7-3 lead.
Virginia Tech responded during the bottom of the fourth inning by loading the bases against three Liberty relievers. Batting the Hokies back into the game, Owen Petrich turned on a hanging 1-2 pitch by Brandon Dahlman that escaped the reach of DeCandido in right field, scoring Hudson Lutterman from third base.
However, with its runners holding to read Petrich’s fly ball, Virginia Tech ran itself into an out as Petrich was held up by Ethan Gibson and Sam Gates ahead of him, causing the Flames to throw Petrich out, 9-4-3, at first base. Petrich’s out proved costly as Dahlman recovered to strike out Locurto, stranding two critical runners in scoring position.
Liberty relied on big hits and free bases to plate three more runs during the fifth inning and control the 10-4 lead. Josh Campos knocked Brendan Yagesh out of the game with his double down the right field line before Marsh delivered a two-RBI single off Luke Craytor that put the Flames comfortably ahead.
Virginia Tech remained scoreless after Petrich’s RBI single – one of two hits by the Hokies’ nine-hitter. On the mound, the Hokies accounted for more walks (12) than hits allowed (nine).
Marsh led Liberty with his 3-for-4 night at the plate that featured a double, a walk, four runs scored and three RBIs. Barone led the Flames with four RBIs.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will trek to New England this weekend to compete in a three-game ACC series at Boston College.
Friday and Sunday’s games will take place at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Massachusetts. Game times are scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Friday (April 10) and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (April 12).
Saturday’s game (April 11) will mark Boston College’s 14th annual ALS Awareness Game at Fenway Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the Eagles is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET with coverage airing on ACC Network.