Virginia Tech opens Queen City Classic in Charlotte with win over Villanova, then one-run loss

Split day for Virginia Tech at the Queen City Classic

Virginia Tech opened play at the Queen City Classic in Charlotte on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, with a 7-3 win over Villanova before dropping a 7-6 decision later in the day to Michigan State. The results left the Hokies at 6-1 after the opening day of the event.

Game 1: Hokies 7, Wildcats 3

Virginia Tech built an early lead and leaned on a strong start in the circle to take the first game. The Hokies struck in the second inning when a two-run home run provided a 2-0 advantage. They added another run in the third on a run-scoring double, extending the margin to three.

Villanova’s offense broke through later, cutting into the deficit with a two-run home run, but Virginia Tech’s pivotal scoring burst came in the fifth inning. The Hokies plated four runs in that frame to open separation and create a multi-run cushion that held through the final two innings.

In the circle, Virginia Tech’s pitching set the tone early, including a sequence of strikeouts to begin the game and a stretch of hitless work through the opening portion of the contest. Villanova used multiple pitchers, with its starter working into the middle innings and a reliever keeping the Hokies off the scoreboard late.

• Virginia Tech scored in the 2nd, 3rd, and a decisive 5th inning.
• Villanova’s key offensive moment was a two-run home run in the later innings.
• Virginia Tech’s pitching delivered early swing-and-miss and limited hits in the opening frames.

Game 2: Michigan State 7, Hokies 6

Virginia Tech’s second game of the day was decided by a single run. The Hokies scored six times but could not fully erase Michigan State’s edge, falling 7-6 in a back-and-forth matchup that tightened late. The one-run result underscored how quickly outcomes can hinge on a single inning or a single at-bat in early-season tournament play.

The Hokies finished Friday with one win and one loss, setting up a weekend in which matchup sequencing and bullpen management can be decisive.

What the opening day signals

The split reflected two distinct formulas: a win driven by timely power and a high-leverage fifth inning against Villanova, and a narrow loss to Michigan State in which Virginia Tech’s run production kept the game within reach but ultimately came up one run short. With additional games remaining in Charlotte, Virginia Tech’s ability to pair early offense with consistent run prevention will be central to improving on the opening-day split.