GREENSBORO, N.C. – Recognized for their elite academic and athletic performances this season, six Virginia Tech baseball student-athletes have been named to the 2022 All-ACC Academic Team, as announced by the league on Monday.
Graduate student Eduardo Malinowski, third-year sophomore Cade Hunter, true sophomores Griffin Green and Jack Hurley, and freshmen Carson DeMartini and Drue Hackenberg comprised Tech's class of honorees. The Hokies tied for the third most selections within the conference, matching North Carolina at six while ranking behind Notre Dame (eight) and Louisville (seven).
Having transferred into Virginia Tech following his four-year undergraduate career at Penn, Malinowski made 54 starts at second base for the Hokies, compiling 13 doubles, three triples and 12 home runs while batting .252. Completing his master's degree in agriculture and life sciences, the six-foot native of Spring, Texas, hammered nine homers across his first 15 Tech appearances, placing onto Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's National Players of the Week (March 7) for his three-homer, seven-RBI series against Wright State.
Hunter elevated all parts of his game during the 2022 season, turning into one of the most dynamic catchers in the ACC. While in pursuit of his bachelor's degree in human development, Tech's All-ACC Second Team backstop crafted a .330 batting average and a .637 slugging percentage with 70 hits, 14 doubles, 17 home runs, 11 stolen bases and 66 RBIs – eclipsing three RBIs on 10 occasions (team best).
As the Hokies' series-opening starting pitcher, Green entered May with a 3.19 ERA and a 7-1 record, helping Tech win seven of its final eight weekend openers against the ACC on its way to securing the Coastal Division title. Pursuing his bachelor's degree in communication studies, the 2022 All-ACC Third Team right-hander issued 61 strikeouts across 72 and two-thirds innings pitched, chalking a 3.79 ERA and a 5-1 record during his 10 conference starts.
Hurley posted the fifth highest batting average within the ACC (.375), tying for the conference lead in doubles (23) while racking up 87 hits, including a triple and 14 home runs. While pursuing his bachelor's degree in communication studies, the three-time 2022 All-American (ABCA/Rawlings, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA) scored 59 runs, totaled 55 RBIs and went 10-for-12 in stolen base attempts, leading the Hokies' outfield corps with seven defensive assists.
Bursting onto the scene at the hot corner, DeMartini batted .341 and slugged .659 across his 58 rookie starts, smashing 14 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs while registering 70 hits and 50 RBIs. Beginning his course of study in business, the two-time 2022 Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA) crossed the plate 54 times for Tech, keeping a .951 fielding percentage at third base.
Hackenberg emerged as the Hokies' leading arm during his freshman season, pacing the ACC in regular season ERA (2.44) and wins (10, tie) prior to finishing the year with his 3.30 ERA and 10-2 record. Pursuing his bachelor's degree in business, the two-time 2022 All-American and Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA) joins Hurley as one of nine All-ACC First Team selections this year to garner All-ACC Academic Team distinction.
