Bat Flips, Ejections, and Mayhem: Virginia Tech vs. UNC Spirals into Late-Game Chaos
What started as a dominant performance on the diamond quickly turned into a scene of pure baseball chaos in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech’s baseball squad erupted early and held on for a fiery 10-6 victory over ACC rival North Carolina on Saturday—but the win was almost overshadowed by an explosion of tempers, bat flips, and multiple ejections that left fans stunned.
The Hokies came out swinging, blasting three home runs in the very first inning. Henry Cooke kicked things off with a two-run shot, followed by Sam Tackett launching a towering 461-foot bomb just two batters later. His emphatic bat flip wasn’t well received—especially by Tar Heels catcher Luke Stevenson, who immediately stepped out to confront Tackett at the plate. That tense moment would light the fuse for a game packed with drama.
As the game progressed, North Carolina clawed back, cutting the Hokies’ early 5-0 lead to 8-6 in the eighth inning. But Virginia Tech responded in kind, with pinch hitter Jared Davis delivering a clutch two-run homer to put the game out of reach. His celebration? A fierce bat spike into the dirt—an act that got him immediately tossed from the game.
The very next pitch escalated things even further. North Carolina’s pitcher appeared to send a message, throwing behind Anderson French, the next Hokie up. French flailed to avoid the ball, but made contact with it unintentionally. Clearly unhappy, he exchanged words with the pitcher as he walked back to the dugout—and was promptly ejected himself.
Two pitches, two players gone.
But the chaos wasn’t done yet.
Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc had seen enough. He stormed out to confront UNC manager Scott Forbes in a heated exchange after the inning, which led to both coaches being ejected as well.
In total, two players and two coaches were thrown out in a matter of moments—adding serious fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
The win evened the weekend series at 1-1, but Virginia Tech will now have to regroup without key players heading into Sunday’s rubber match. Tensions are high, emotions are raw, and all eyes will be on how Game 3 unfolds in what has turned into one of the most dramatic series of the season.