Hokie ClubCHARLOTTE, N.C. – Falling behind early during its must-win pool play game on Friday night, the top-seeded No. 2 Virginia Tech baseball team exited the 2022 ACC Baseball Championship courtesy of its uncharacteristic, 10-0 defeat by eighth-seeded North Carolina at Truist Field.
Virginia Tech (41-12) was held scoreless for the first time during the 2022 season by UNC left-hander Brandon Schaeffer, who held the Hokies to six hits while logging a complete game. Schaeffer allowed one Tech base runner to reach scoring position during his 102-pitch outing, conceding second base during the sixth inning after back-to-back singles by Carson DeMartini and Nick Biddison.
Sophomore shortstop Tanner Schobel went 2-for-4 to lead the Hokies, who hit into two double plays on the night. Schobel appeared to deliver Tech its break during the bottom of the fourth inning when his fly ball down the right field line fell between three converging Tar Heels, only to result in him being thrown out at second base by right fielder Angel Zarate.
Freshman right-hander Drue Hackenberg struggled to put away North Carolina (36-19) during the first inning, surrendering four runs on six hits while making one pass through the UNC lineup. Hackenberg was lifted for reliever Graham Firoved at the start of the second inning, departing after the shortest start of his rookie season.
Vance Honeycutt earned three RBIs from his two home runs to lead the Tar Heels, who sent four balls out of the yard. Zarate doubled off Hackenberg to begin the game and homered off Firoved to start the second inning – the latter of which put UNC in front, 5-0.
Danny Serretti hit a solo home run off Firoved during the top of the fourth inning, extending North Carolina's lead to 7-0. A fielding miscue by Schobel during the seventh inning led Tech to concede two more runs while Hunter Stokely capped the scoring with his ninth-inning RBI double off Jordan Geber.
Henry Weycker made it through three innings of relief work for the Hokies, allowing three hits while being charged for two runs (one earned).
UP NEXT
No. 2 Virginia Tech is in line to host its first NCAA Regional since 2013 and can potentially earn the program's first top-eight national seed when the 64-team postseason field is announced on Monday, May 30. The selection show for the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship will air live on ESPN2 beginning at 12 p.m.