blacksburg – Living on billing “Hammerin' Hokies” The Virginia Tech baseball team played just as strongly on the other side of the ball, especially when it came to its starting pitchers.
From there, Ace was born. Brett Renfroe, has won each of his first four career starts. After leading the Hokies to an ACC-opening win against Notre Dame on March 8, he became the program's second freshman starting pitcher and began his career with a 4-0 record and was selected in the top 100 of the 2023 MLB Draft. Ta. Drew Hackenberg (2022).
In his first performance in the ACC, Renfroe pitched eight innings and had 10 strikeouts from Irish batters, setting rookie season highs in both categories. The right-hander allowed three hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk, comfortably keeping Notre Dame at bay as Tech won 11-3.
It was a theme in each of his first four starts, but Renfroe improved the longer he played. The Hokies' Friday hurler maintained a high speed of 95 mph during eight innings of 3-up, 3-down innings, and ended the day by retiring 16 of the last 17 batters he faced.
The Manassas, Virginia, native pitched 24 innings this season with a 1.88 ERA and 29 strikeouts, allowing 15 hits (5.63 hits per nine innings) and four walks. He enters Friday's projected start at Louisville, ranking fifth among ACC pitchers in earned run average and sixth in strikeouts.
“If that's not one of the best young players in the country, I don't know what is,” the head coach said. john zefuk.
Renfroe has set a high benchmark for the Hokies on the mound this season, paving the way for Tech to win its fourth straight opening series. His ability to pitch deep into games also alleviated the pressure from overusing his relief arm early in a multi-game series.
“He came out and got off to a really great start in getting the season going in Charlotte. I think that was a big step,” Sehufu added. ”[This] Becoming an ACC series was also a big step. He can only do things that others can't do. ”
Completing Renfroe on Saturday was the junior right-hander. wyatt council, enters this weekend's series at Louisville with a 2-0 record and a 3.72 ERA. Parliament pitched 18 and one-third innings, walked four batters, gave up 12 hits (5.89 hits per nine innings), and had an opponent batting average of .171. This is the third-lowest mark in the ACC.
Congress and Renfroe have combined to lead Virginia Tech to an 8-0 record this season through its first two weekend games.
Parliament's efficiency was on display against Stony Brook (March 2), where he pitched four innings and pitched seven innings en route to Blacksburg's first win since transferring from Rutgers. Against Notre Dame on March 9, he had a career-high 10 strikeouts, all of the first seven outs of the game, and eight of the first nine outs of the game this way. Obtained.
Sophomore right-hander wraps up Tech's weekend. griffin steeg He faces the difficult task of pitching to a disgruntled batting lineup that has been shut down by Renfroe and Congress. Stieg is 2-1 in four starts and has been in exceptional form since the season-opening loss to Charlotte.
Since pitching against Rhode Island on February 25th, Stieg has allowed two earned runs in his last 15 and two-thirds innings pitched (1.15 ERA), including 14 and two-thirds of his innings pitched against Rhode Island. This also includes consecutive pitches in which he pitched two scoreless innings. Against Notre Dame on March 10, he hindered the Irish until the sixth inning, leaving the Hokies with a 5-1 lead.
Riding on Stieg's victory, Virginia Tech completed its first sweep in an ACC season and is off to its best start in the league since joining the conference prior to 2005. Going forward, Tech will rely more on the strength of the veteran who began the 2024 campaign as the Hokies' only returning pitcher with starting experience.
Virginia Tech's three starting pitchers have a combined record of 8 wins, 1 loss and a 2.95 ERA. They have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season, drawing the attention of opponents into the heart of conference play.
“We all push each other to get better every week,” the council said. “The three of us encourage each other to keep getting better and better.”
Sheku emphasizes the importance of getting off to a strong start, both in individual matches and the season as a whole. His hopes were certainly fulfilled by the three key starting pitchers.
Virginia Tech will make its first trip to Louisville in the ACC for a three-game series to be played at Jim Patterson Stadium from March 15 to March 17. Game times for the Hokies and Cardinals are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m.
