The Virginia Tech baseball team lost its chance for a weekend series sweep on May 3, falling to the University of California, Berkeley with a 9-4 defeat at Evans Diamond at Stu Gordon Stadium.
The loss ended Virginia Tech’s four-game winning streak and left the team with a record of 25-21 overall and 13-14 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Cal improved to 24-23 overall and 8-16 in conference games. The Golden Bears took control early by scoring five runs in the second inning, putting pressure on the Hokies for the rest of the game.
Sam Grube and Henry Cooke each hit home runs for Virginia Tech. Grube’s two-run homer in the third inning narrowed Cal’s lead to three runs, but starter Griffin Stieg gave up two more runs in the fourth as Cal extended its advantage. Cooke added a solo home run in the fifth—his second homer in as many games—but that was all Virginia Tech could manage until a late rally produced one run in the ninth inning.
Stieg allowed seven earned runs over four innings, giving up five hits including two home runs to Cal catcher Hideki Prather, who finished with five RBIs. On the mound for Cal, right-hander Ethan Foley pitched six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters.
Looking ahead, Virginia Tech will resume its home-and-home series against Liberty University on Wednesday, May 6 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
