Liberty has been a thorn in Virginia Tech baseball’s side in recent meetings — and was again on Tuesday at English Field.
The visitors were hushed by Chase Swift until his fourth-inning removal, when they began pouring in runs to eventually win 11-4. The Hokies (15-16) have lost four straight to Liberty (23-9), with their last victory coming on April 10, 2024. They aren’t completely alone in their struggles against the Flames, who are 9-5 against the ACC over the last two seasons.
Though Swift recorded eight of the first nine outs Tuesday, he didn’t start. Left-hander Madden Clement made his first appearance since the second game of last season against Bucknell, when he exited with a left arm injury after 3⅓ innings without allowing an earned run.
The Butler, Pa., native went 417 days between appearances after undergoing surgery. He was expected to contend for a rotation spot last year after an encouraging freshman season in 2024, when he made 12 appearances — including six midweek starts —with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks.
His 2026 debut could’ve gone better — he walked three batters, including one to force in a run — but that’s not abnormal for a pitcher easing back into live play.
“He’s been away from baseball for 13 months, so it’s going to take time for him,” Hokies head coach John Szefc said. “He was alright. He obviously didn’t get the results we wanted, but it wasn’t like he was getting hit hard. He just didn’t throw enough strikes, unfortunately.”
That was the case for most of Tech’s staff on Tuesday night, which tied its season-high 12 walks across eight different arms. Swift didn’t allow a single hit from Clement exiting the game with the bases loaded in the first — which Swift handled — up to the end of the third. At just 41 pitches, the lefty could've gone longer, but Szefc prioritized limiting him for the weekend.
Brody Roe replaced him to start the fourth and struggled. He struck out his first batter, designated hitter Landon Scilley, before allowing consecutive 3-2 walks to catcher Kyle Hvidsten and center fielder Josh Campos.
Shortstop Tanner Marsh, who was 4-for-10 against Tech last year, followed with an RBI ground-rule double over the head of right fielder Sam Grube, who seemed to lose the ball in the sun. Outfielder Riley DeCandido singled to plate two more, ending Roe’s day and beginning Jacob Exum’s.
The Virginia Beach native allowed doubles to infielder Jordan Jaffe — another that Grube couldn’t find and misplayed — and left fielder Nick Barone around a walk to first baseman Jaxon Sorenson. Barone’s knock cleared loaded bases to put the Flames ahead 7-3.
Brendan Yagesh entered the game and got the final two outs of the fourth. The senior has started the last three series openers for Tech, so his appearance Tuesday likely means he will pivot back to a bullpen role. He allowed 10 earned runs against Miami last Friday.
Szefc said that the team is “maybe” looking to swap Yagesh out of the rotation but didn’t name a replacement.
The left-hander threw a four-pitch walk and allowed a double to Josh Campos to start the fifth, putting two runners in scoring position and ending his first relief outing since March 13. Luke Craytor entered and quickly ushered three runs across with Marsh’s two-run single and Sorenson fielder’s choice RBI. The Flames led 10-4.
Their final run came via Sorenson single with Aiden Robertson on the mound in the seventh. Robertson pitched 2 ⅓ one-run innings before Danny Lazaro tossed a clean ninth. He was the second Tech arm to not allow a run. Roe recorded four earned while Exum and Yagesh had two. Clement, Swift, Roe and Craytor yielded multiple walks.
Owen Petrich singled with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to plate the Hokies’ fourth and final run. They weren’t able to string more than one hit in an inning from that point on.
Their offense peaked in the first, when leadoff man Nick Locurto (2-for-5) singled and Sam Grube (0-for-2, two walks) was hit by Liberty starter Josh Swink.
Henry Cooke (1-for-3) drove in Locurto with a base hit into the outfield and Willie Hurt (1-for-2) followed suit, plating Grube and Cooke. Tech’s 3-1 lead held until Swift’s removal.
With three losses in their last four games, the Hokies are headed to Massachusetts this weekend for a high-profile series at No. 23 Boston College. The Eagles (23-11, 9-6) have surprised this season with series wins over Miami, Virginia and Cal. Saturday’s game will be played at Fenway Park for Boston College’s annual ALS Awareness game.
“[The Eagles] are just really good,” Szefc said. “That's the hardest place to play in the country. I’ve said that for more than 40 years. Hopefully our guys can get it together and play competitive baseball.”
Injury note:
Szefc said that shortstop Pete Daniel suffered a strained hamstring, which has kept him out the last two games. He gave no timeline for Daniel’s injury, nor did he for infielder Clay Grady, who’s been out all season with a fractured wrist.
Box Score: Liberty 11, Virginia Tech 4