The Shadow
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The 2026 season marked a return to postseason baseball for Virginia Tech, as the Hokies earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2022. Virginia Tech finished the year with a 30-26 overall record and a 15-15 mark in ACC play, securing seventh place in one of the nation’s toughest conferences. The Hokies earned a first-round bye in the ACC Baseball Tournament before advancing to the quarterfinals and ultimately receiving an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament.
Returning to the National Stage
Following a strong finish to the regular season, Virginia Tech was selected as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional, marking the program’s 12th NCAA Tournament appearance and second under John Szefc. The Hokies entered postseason play following four consecutive ACC series victories against Pitt, NC State, Cal and Clemson.
Offensive Firepower
Virginia Tech’s lineup featured production throughout the order and ranked among the ACC’s most dangerous offenses during stretches of the season.
Freshman infielder Ethan Ball emerged as one of the league’s breakout stars, earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors while finishing with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and a .660 slugging percentage. His power surge played a major role in the Hokies’ postseason push that led to his spot on the NCAA Los Angeles Regional All-Tournament Team.
Junior infielder Pete Daniel paced the team with a .335 batting average, while Ethan Gibson followed closely at .329. Behind the plate, senior Henry Cooke delivered one of the hottest bats in the conference with a .347 batting average during the month of May.
The offense reached its peak during the ACC Tournament, setting season highs with 22 runs, 28 hits, and 20 RBIs. The Hokies also blasted three home runs against nationally ranked North Carolina in the quarterfinals.
Leading the Staff
On the mound, All-ACC Second Team selection Brett Renfrow anchored the pitching staff, posting a 5-4 record with a 4.64 ERA and 88 strikeouts. His consistency throughout conference play helped stabilize a staff that improved significantly during the second half of the season.
A defining moment of the year came on April 14, when the Hokies combined to throw a no-hitter against Radford. This was the sixth time in program history and first since 2000 that Hokies accomplished this feat. The performance sparked the team’s late-season turnaround and helped launch its postseason run.
Building Momentum
Virginia Tech finished the season playing meaningful baseball in May and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. The Hokies navigated one of the nation’s most difficult schedules, finished .500 in ACC play and continued building a foundation for sustained success.
With emerging young talent, postseason experience gained throughout the roster and another NCAA appearance secured, the 2026 season represented an important step forward for the program as it looks toward an even bigger future on the national stage.
