BLACKSBURG – Backed by Chris Cannizzaro's monster performance at the plate on Sunday – highlighted by him hitting Virginia Tech's first in-season cycle since 2021 – the No. 14 Virginia Tech baseball team finished off Bryant, 15-8, to clinch the teams' weekend series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Cannizzaro sped (quite literally) to Tech history, completing his cycle within his first four plate appearances of the game. Facing a total of nine pitches through his opening four at-bats, the fifth-year outfielder tripled for the Hokies' first hit of the game during the first inning, homered to right center during the second inning, singled during the fourth inning and doubled down the left field line during the sixth inning.
As an encore, Cannizzaro walloped the first pitch of the seventh inning to left center for his second home run of the day, pushing Tech's late-inning lead to 14-7. He finished batting 5-for-6, crossing the plate four times while earning his two RBIs on his two home run swings.
Despite rallying for seven runs during the bottom of the second inning – two of which were produced by rookie catcher Brody Donay's inside-the-park home run – Virginia Tech (5-2) had trouble putting away Bryant (1-5). The Hokies allowed the Bulldogs to score during seven of nine offensive innings on Sunday, witnessing their 8-3 lead after the second inning slip to as close as 9-7 during the top of the sixth inning.
There, Tech reliever Brady Kirtner was tasked with helping Jonah Hurney out of Bryant's bases-loaded jam that threatened to put the visitors on top. Needing two outs, Kirtner sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around his plunking of Carmine Petosa that forced in Gavin Noriega and reduced the Hokies' lead to two runs.
However, after Cannizzaro's cycle-clinching double had introduced two Tech runners in scoring position during the bottom of the inning, Carson DeMartini drove them both in with his two-RBI single through the right side. Eddie Eisert's ensuing RBI double pushed the Hokies' lead to 12-7 while Gehrig Ebel added a sacrifice fly to cap the home side's four-run frame.
Virginia Tech starter Anthony Arguelles was charged for five runs, four earned, during three and one-third innings pitched, though the Hokies' bats came to his aid.
Sixth-year slugger Eduardo Malinowski connected on the game-tying, two-RBI double during the bottom of the second inning and proceeded to score on Donay's inside-the-park homer that bounced off the wall and away from Bryant's converging outfielders.
Eisert closed the Hokies' seven-run second inning with his two-run blast to right field - his third home run of the season. The NC State transfer went 2-for-4 in Tech's cleanup spot, scoring two runs while matching DeMartini for the team high in RBIs (three).
NOTEWORTHY
• Chris Cannizzaro's cycle is the first in-season feat achieved by a Virginia Tech player since April 6, 2021, when Gavin Cross hit for the cycle during the Hokies' 15-5 win at ETSU.
• Cannizzaro is the first Tech player to hit for the cycle at English Field since Tim Smalling did so on March 15, 2010, during the Hokies' 22-10 win against Columbia.
• Considering the 2022-23 athletic year, Cannizzaro is the second member of Virginia Tech's spring roster to hit for the cycle during collegiate competition. Eddie Eisert hit for the cycle out of season during the Hokies' October 2022 fall game at Liberty.
UP NEXT
No. 14 Virginia Tech will host Radford on Tuesday, Feb. 28. First pitch between the Hokies and the Highlanders at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tickets remain on sale to Virginia Tech's five ACC home series, beginning with the Hokies' ACC-opening series against Boston College (March 10-12). Purchase your tickets today.
Gallery: (2-27-2023) BSB: Bryant Game 3