Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Entertaining a top-10 opponent (per D1Baseball) at home on Saturday for the first time since 2023, the No. 25 Virginia Tech baseball team missed its chance to make a statement against No. 9 Florida State, dropping two doubleheader games by scores of 3-1 and 12-1 at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Virginia Tech (23-12, 9-8 ACC) played from behind nearly all afternoon long, splitting its eight combined hits evenly, four and four, across both contests. Junior catcher and designated hitter Henry Cooke accounted for the Hokies’ two run-scoring plays – ironically, during the fourth inning of both games – hitting into an RBI fielder’s choice during game one and mashing an RBI double during game two.
Sophomore right-hander Brett Renfrow showcased electric stuff from the start of game one, striking out seven distinct Seminoles during an eight-batter run through three scoreless innings. However, Florida State (27-7, 10-4 ACC) managed to turn leadoff doubles by Max Williams and Chase Williams during the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, into three runs against the Virginia Tech ace, enough for FSU starter Joey Volini to stifle the Hokies during the series-opening pitching duel.
Virginia Tech batted into three double plays during game one – an omen that trickled into game two, where the Seminoles successfully turned two more. Despite its bullpen uniting for four shutout innings after Renfrow’s departure, the Hokies left the potential go-ahead and winning runs on base during the sixth and innings, respectively, having to settle for the narrow, two-run defeat during Saturday’s opener.
During game two, Virginia Tech struggled deciphering talented southpaw Jamie Arnold, who ranks as Major League Baseball’s No. 1 pitching prospect heading into the 2025 MLB Draft (No. 3 overall). Arnold struck out nine batters, holding the Hokies to a skinny run through the duration of his seven-inning start.
Virginia Tech rookie left-hander Jake Marciano matched Arnold’s efficiency, despite being snakebitten for four solo home runs spread across Florida State’s first four scoring innings. While Cooke’s RBI double trimmed the Hokies’ deficit to 3-1 during the fourth inning of game two, Drew Faurot’s solo homer during the sixth inning reinstated the Seminoles’ three-run lead, which they proudly carried into the late innings.
There, Florida State tacked on two runs during the seventh inning, three runs during the eighth inning and three runs during the ninth inning to come away with the 12-1, series-clinching victory.