Radford at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia Tech pitchers combined for a historic no-hitter Tuesday, overwhelming Radford in a 14-0 victory at English Field.
The Hokies’ staff of Madden Clement, Ethan Grim, Brody Roe, Josh Berzonski and Danny Lazaro faced just two batters over the minimum, with the only Radford baserunners reaching on a walk and an error. It marked the first no-hitter for Virginia Tech since 2010 and the first combined no-hitter in program history.
The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, was a stark reversal of the Interstat game simulator’s projection of a 5-4 Radford win, though the ELO system heavily favored the Hokies.
Virginia Tech’s offense provided more than enough support, racking up 13 hits. The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the second inning, breaking open what was a 1-0 contest. After Nick Locurto doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch, a walk loaded the bases. Christian Daniel drew another walk to force in a run. Ethan Ball then cleared the bases with a three-run double to left-center field, staking the Hokies to a 5-0 lead and setting the tone for the rout.
The Hokies (17-18) added two more in the fifth on a two-run homer by Locurto, his fourth of the season, scoring Sam Grube who had singled. They then sent 12 men to the plate in a seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Grube and a two-run double by Hudson Lutterman. Grube finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs, while Lutterman went 2 for 4 with four RBIs.
On the mound, Clement started with two perfect innings, striking out two. Grim (2-0) was dominant in relief, striking out four of the six batters he faced over two perfect frames to earn the win. Roe, Berzonski and Lazaro each contributed a perfect inning to seal the no-hit bid. Radford’s only serious threat was erased in the fourth on a caught stealing that was upheld after a challenge.
Radford (16-17) used six pitchers, with starter Mason Hatcher taking the loss after allowing two earned runs in one inning of work. The Highlanders, who defeated Virginia Tech 13-5 just two weeks prior on March 31, managed only the one walk off Hokies pitching.
The loss extends Radford’s recent skid, while Virginia Tech looks to carry the momentum into a weekend Atlantic Coast Conference series against Pittsburgh beginning Friday. Radford opens a Big South Conference series at home against Gardner-Webb on Friday.