Virginia Tech’s pitching staff delivered a historic performance Tuesday evening at English Field, combining for the program’s first no-hitter since 2000 in a 14-0 run-rule victory over Radford. With the win, the Hokies secured their first sweep of the Highlanders in the Sharkey’s Classic since 2024.
Virginia Tech baseball’s last no-hitter in program history was against La Salle on May 13, 2000, in Philadelphia, PA, where they won 8-0 in a seven-inning game.
“It’s pretty cool to be a part of something like that,” said catcher Henry Cooke. “A no-hitter is special. You dream about playing in a game like that when you’re a kid.”
The Hokies set the tone immediately, taking advantage of early control issues from Radford starter Joshua Milleville in the opening inning. After Pete Daniel and Ethan Ball were both hit by pitches to begin the frame, Henry Cooke moved them into scoring position with a groundout. Hudson Lutterman followed with an RBI single through the left side, plating Daniel and giving Tech a quick 1-0 lead.
Virginia Tech broke the game open in the second inning with a patient and opportunistic approach at the plate. Sam Grube worked a leadoff walk before Nick Locurto doubled down the right-field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With the bases loaded, Pete drew an RBI walk, and Ball delivered the decisive blow with a bases-clearing double to left-center, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
While the offense built an early cushion, the Hokie pitching staff quietly took control. Starter Madden Clement – in just his second appearance since February of 2025 – worked two scoreless innings before handing things off to Ethan Grim, who proved dominant in relief. Grim struck out the side in the third and helped preserve the no-hit bid as Radford struggled to generate consistent contact.
After a pair of quieter innings, Virginia Tech put the game out of reach in the fifth with an explosive rally. Grube sparked the surge with a single, setting the stage for Locurto’s two-run home run to left field – his fourth of the season. The Hokies continued to string together quality at-bats, with Willie Hurt and Sam Gates reaching to keep the line moving. RBI contributions from Pete, Lutterman, Owen Petrich and Grube highlighted a massive inning that pushed the lead into double digits.
The Hokies added the final touches in the sixth inning when Lutterman delivered a two-RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Gates and Ethan Gibson to make it 14-0 and trigger the run-rule.
On the mound, the story remained unchanged throughout. Grim earned the win in relief, while Brody Roe, Josh Berzonski, and Danny Lazaro combined to complete the no-hitter. The Hokies issued just one free pass and consistently attacked the strike zone, a point of emphasis for head coach John Szefc.
“I’m just glad we threw strikes,” Szefc said. “Every guy that went in was ready for their opportunity, and that’s really where it starts.”
For Szefc, the midweek contest provided an ideal opportunity to balance development with results. Virginia Tech used multiple arms without overextending any one pitcher, while also getting contributions throughout the lineup.
“That’s kind of what you hope a midweek game is going to be,” Szefc said. “You’re getting a lot of guys' work, getting guys innings, and not overextending anybody.”
Even as the no-hitter took shape late in the game, the focus remained on execution rather than the milestone itself. Still, Szefc acknowledged the significance of the accomplishment.
“That’s just kind of a special thing,” he said. “You don’t really see that hardly ever, so don’t take it for granted – you may never see it again.”
Offensively, the Hokies’ disciplined approach and depth stood out, with 13 different players recording at-bats. The balanced production, combined with the dominant pitching performance, provided a needed boost as Tech looks ahead to conference play.
“It’s important that you beat the people you’re supposed to beat,” Szefc said. “And hopefully something like this gets guys back into a good rhythm.”
With the emphatic win, Virginia Tech not only secured a season sweep of Radford but also delivered one of its most complete performances of the season – highlighted by a historic night on the mound.
The Hokies will have little time to celebrate their record-breaking performance, as they move their attention to Pitt, which heads to Blacksburg for a three-game series at English Field, starting Friday with a first pitch time of 6 p.m. ET.
