Virginia Tech left the Sunshine State with a vital breath of life Sunday afternoon, using a masterful performance from Griffin Stieg to claim a 6-3 victory over Miami and avoid the road sweep.
After a weekend at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field that began in nightmare fashion, the Hokies (15-15, 6-9 ACC) displayed the resilience that has defined their 2026 campaign. Despite dropping the first two games to a potent Hurricanes (24-8, 6-6 ACC) lineup, Tech found its rhythm in the finale, pairing timely hitting with lockdown pitching to secure a conference win.
Game One: Miami 19, Virginia Tech 1 (7 innings)
The series opener was a somber affair that saw the Hokies humbled by a run-rule loss in a game that unraveled with staggering speed.
Tech struck first just two batters into the ball game. Pete Daniel drew a leadoff walk, and freshman Ethan Ball drove him in with his first collegiate triple down the right field line to give the Hokies an early 1-0 lead. However, the momentum was short-lived as the three-through-five hitters were unable to bring Ball home.
After working a clean three-up, three-down first inning, senior right-hander Brendan Yagesh watched his start dissolve in the second. Derek Williams tied the game on the very first pitch of the inning with a 383-foot solo shot to left. Yagesh nearly limited the damage by inducing a pop-out for the first out, and though he allowed a one-out single to Vance Sheahan, he followed it up by striking out Dylan Dubovik to put the Hokies just one out away from escaping the jam.
However, a two-out infield single from Alonzo Alvarez kept the door open, allowing Fabio Peralta to clear the bases with a two-run triple down the right field line. Jake Ogden immediately followed with a two-run towering home run to deep left field. By the time the third out was recorded, a 1-0 lead had flipped to a 5-1 deficit.
The third inning is where the game truly spiraled. Miami sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs, as Yagesh and the Hokie bullpen struggled with command. The Hurricanes turned a lead-off double and five free passes into a massive rally, punctuated by a two-RBI single from Alex Sosa and a back-breaking grand slam from Brylan West that pushed the margin to a daunting 14-1.
The final frames were a mere formality. Miami added five more runs over the fourth and fifth innings, including a solo blast from Alvarez. Virginia Tech was held to just five hits total, and the contest was called in the seventh due to the ACC mercy rule.
The 18-run loss marks the Hokies’ worst loss since losing 19-0 at Georgia Tech on April 13, 2024.
Game Two: Miami 8, Virginia Tech 6
Saturday night provided a much more competitive battle that saw the Hokies nearly pull off a miracle comeback in the ninth, despite a middle-inning collapse that had left them trailing by six.
Tech took the lead first for the second straight night. In the second inning, Pete Daniel ignited the rally with a one-out double to left-center, and Sam Gates followed with an RBI double to deep left center, scoring Daniel to give the Hokies a 1-0 lead.
However, the advantage was short-lived. Brett Renfrow escaped a first-inning leadoff triple unscathed, but Miami finally broke through in the third. Daniel Cuvet tripled and subsequently scored on an Alex Sosa sacrifice fly to tie the contest at 1-1.
The game unraveled for the Hokies in the fourth as Miami exploded for five two-out runs on six hits. After Max Galvin singled and moved to second on a Sheahan single, Fabio Peralta drove him in with an RBI single to give Miami its first lead. The rally accelerated when Jake Ogden tripled to right-center, scoring two more, and Cuvet followed immediately with a 385-foot two-run home run to deep left. By the time the third out was recorded, the Hokies found themselves in a 6-1 hole.
The middle frames saw the Hokie bats fall silent; after a Henry Cooke double in the third, Tech was held to just one hit over the next four innings. Miami capitalized on the stagnation, adding insurance via a Vance Sheahan sacrifice fly in the fifth and an Ogden RBI single in the eighth to extend the margin to 8-2. Renfrow exited after 5.0 innings, and while the bullpen provided some stability, the offensive drought through the middle of the game left the Hokies with a mountain to climb.
Down to their final out in the ninth, the Hokies sparked a frantic rally against the Hurricane bullpen. After Daniel drew a walk and advanced on a passed ball, Nick Locurto delivered an RBI single to keep the game alive. Ethan Ball then sent a shockwave through the stadium, launching a massive 420-foot three-run home run into the right-center field parking garage. The blast brought the Hokies within two, but the rally ended there as Ryan Bilka recorded a strikeout to preserve the 8-6 result.
Game Three: Virginia Tech 6, Miami 3
The series finale belonged entirely to Griffin Stieg and a clinical defensive effort on Easter Sunday, as the Hokies avoided the road sweep with a 6-3 victory.
Tech jumped out to an early advantage in the second inning. Following back-to-back two-out singles by Willie Hurt and Sam Gates, Ethan Gibson delivered an RBI single to left field. A Miami fielding error on the same play allowed both Hurt and Gates to cross the plate, gifting the Hokies a 2-0 lead.
Tech doubled down in the third with back-to-back solo home runs from Ethan Ball and Sam Grube, extending the cushion to 4-0. Stieg provided the stabilizing force the staff needed, tossing six gritty innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits to keep the Hurricane bats at bay.
The game was ultimately preserved by a massive defensive play in the eighth. With two runners in scoring position and the lead cut to 4-2, Sam Grube made an athletic diving grab in right field. Derek Williams, who was on second base, failed to get a good read on the ball and was doubled off to end the inning.
Tech capitalized on the momentum in the ninth, using a Hudson Lutterman RBI groundout and another Gibson RBI single to push the advantage to 6-2.
Miami attempted a final rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring one run on a Fabio Peralta sacrifice fly, but the threat was neutralized. Preston Crowl navigated the final frame to secure his first save of the season and preserve the 6-3 win. The victory allowed the Hokies to salvage the weekend and move to 15-15 on the season as they head back home to host Liberty.
The weekend in Coral Gables was a tale of three vastly different performances that tested Tech’s resolve. After an opening-night collapse where the pitching staff was overwhelmed by a 19-run Hurricane onslaught, the Hokies spent the remainder of the series fighting to regain their footing in the Coastal Division race. While Saturday showcased a high-octane but ultimately late-arriving offense, Sunday’s finale proved to be the most complete game of the road trip. By pairing a dominant quality start from Griffin Stieg with a collection of highlight-reel defensive plays, Tech managed to neutralize one of the ACC's most dangerous lineups.
The Hokies will host Liberty for a midweek matchup at English Field on Tuesday, April 7. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
