Hokie ClubBERKELEY, Calif. – Bidding for its first weekend series sweep of the 2026 season on Sunday, the Virginia Tech baseball team was left having to play catch-up at Cal after allowing a five-run second inning during its 9-4 defeat at Evans Diamond at Stu Gordon Stadium.
Sam Grube and Henry Cooke hammered a pair of home runs for Virginia Tech (25-21, 13-14 ACC), which had its four-game winning streak snapped by the Golden Bears. Grube’s two-run homer during the third inning brought the Hokies within 5-2 of Cal (24-23, 8-16 ACC), which stung starter Griffin Stieg for two more runs during the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cooke’s solo homer during the fifth inning – his second during as many games – nudged Virginia Tech within the 7-3 score line, though was all the Hokies could muster until their bases-loaded rally during the ninth inning produced one run.
Stieg was charged for seven earned runs through four innings of work, allowing five hits, including two home runs to catcher Hideki Prather, who finished with five RBIs. On the opposite side, right-hander Ethan Foley delivered six innings for Cal, allowing three runs on seven hits while recording seven strikeouts.
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Virginia Tech will return its 2026 home-and-home series against Liberty on Wednesday, May 6. First pitch between the Hokies and the Flames at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.