Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – With rookie Carson DeMartini delivering the game-winning, ground-rule double during the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday, the No. 5 Virginia Tech baseball team walked off Villanova, 3-2, to finish a two-game sweep of the Wildcats at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
DeMartini's second double of the ballgame clinched Virginia Tech (33-10) its second victory of the season when trailing after seven innings of play. The Hokies – who trailed Villanova (17-24-1) by the 2-1 margin heading into the eighth inning – received a game-tying solo homer from Gavin Cross during the eighth inning before staging their first walk-off moment in precisely one calendar year (May 8, 2021, vs. Toledo).
Freshman right-hander Drue Hackenberg shoved during his 11th start of the season, notching his seventh quality start despite not earning a decision. Hackenberg retired eight consecutive Wildcats after surrendering a second-inning double to AJ Hansen, protecting Tech's 1-0 lead deep into the seventh inning.
There, an untimely fumble by DeMartini of Hansen's chopper up the line left Hackenberg one out short of exiting the inning unscathed. With two runners aboard, Hackenberg fanned Will Reiner on strikes to post the second out of the inning, though conceded the go-ahead, two-RBI double to Pat O'Neill that plated a pair of unearned runs for the visitors.
Villanova threatened to add to its lead during the ensuing at-bat. Cameron Hassert dropped a single into left field that developed with enough pace for Jack Hurley to easily throw out O'Neill at the plate for his sixth outfield assist of the season.
Redeeming himself on the other side of the ball, DeMartini nearly tied the game during the bottom of the seventh inning, ripping a two-out double down the right field line. However, the Wildcats called Hurley's number from the previous inning, executing the 9-4-2 relay that nabbed Lucas Donlon at home to retire the side.
Denied a run since Tanner Schobel's first-inning RBI double, Tech found the offensive spark it needed during the bottom of the eighth inning. Turning on a 1-1 pitch from Devin Rivera, Cross smashed his 11th home run of the season to right field, circling the bases to level the score at 2-2.
Strong infield defending by the Hokies helped Henry Weycker and Kiernan Higgins escape a two-on, none-out situation during the top of the ninth inning, setting the scene for Tech's walk-off heroics.
In the wake of Eduardo Malinowski's leadoff single, Donlon battled back from 0-2 down to draw the two-out walk that pushed Malinowski into scoring position. With the Villanova outfield playing shallow, DeMartini bounced Rivera's 1-1 pitch off the trim of the warning track, carrying over the wall for the game-winning, two-base clincher.
NOTEWORTHY
• Virginia Tech improved to 2-9 this season when trailing after seven innings of play. The Hokies' previous victory was earned on March 25 when Tech overcame a 5-3 deficit at then-No. 12 Notre Dame to defeat the Irish, 10-5, at Frank Eck Stadium (six-run ninth inning).
• Tech's walk-off victory on Sunday against Villanova marked the program's first in precisely one calendar year, having walked off Toledo, 3-2, on May 8, 2021, during the second game of a doubleheader at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. Nick Biddison hit the game-winning sacrifice fly for the Hokies then against the Rockets.
UP NEXT
No. 5 Virginia Tech will host Liberty on Wednesday, May 11. First pitch between the Hokies and Flames at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Gallery: (5-8-2022) BSB: Villanova Game 2