The Virginia Tech baseball team lost a close game, 8-7, against No. 23 Boston College at Fenway Park on April 11 during the Eagles’ annual ALS Awareness Game.
The result was significant for both teams as Virginia Tech aimed to clinch its Atlantic Coast Conference road series but fell just short after a late rally. The event also marked the Eagles’ continued tradition of raising awareness for ALS.
Senior catcher Henry Cooke led Virginia Tech with three hits, including a triple in the first inning. Hudson Lutterman contributed two hits and an RBI single that brought home Cooke for the Hokies’ first run. Ethan Ball hit a two-run home run in the second inning, helping Virginia Tech build an early 4-0 lead.
Boston College responded with four runs in the fourth inning, tying the game after Gunnar Johnson’s bases-clearing double. Johnson later added a sacrifice fly to give BC its first lead of the day. In total, Johnson drove in five runs and accounted for six of Boston College’s eight runs.
Virginia Tech tied the score again in the seventh inning when Nick Locurto scored on a wild pitch after advancing from first to third on Ball’s single. However, Boston College regained control with three more runs in their half of the seventh inning following singles by Ty Mainolfi and Nick Wang and another RBI from Johnson.
Despite trailing by three runs late, Virginia Tech mounted one last comeback attempt as Locurto hit a two-RBI triple in the eighth inning to make it an 8-7 ballgame. The Hokies threatened again in their final at-bat but were unable to score after BC secured two unconventional outs—including picking off Cooke at third base—to end the contest.
Both starting pitchers lasted six innings; Brady Miller struck out six batters for Boston College while Brett Renfrow threw a career-high 109 pitches for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech will play Boston College again on Sunday, April 12 at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Harrington Athletics Village.
