BLACKSBURG – With sophomore right-hander Drue Hackenberg delivering 10 strikeouts (career high) on Saturday afternoon, the No. 14 Virginia Tech baseball team evened its weekend series with Bryant as the Hokies played to the 4-1 win at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Hackenberg surrendered a lone, unearned run during his seven innings on the mound, holding the Bulldogs to four hits – all singles – while etching his first winning decision of the 2023 season. Tech's 6-foot-2 ace was gifted four runs by the Hokies' offense while shutting out the visitors through five innings, twice facing and denying the potential game-tying batters during the sixth and seventh innings.
In the blink of an eye, Virginia Tech (4-2) scored all the runners it needed to back Hackenberg in victory during the bottom of the third inning. On consecutive pitches dealt by Bryant starter Ken Turner, juniors Gehrig Ebel and Eddie Eisert hammered solo home runs for the Hokies – Ebel pulling his deep to left field while Eisert lined his clear of the center field wall.
Tech troubled Turner again during the bottom of the fourth inning, bringing a pair of runs across before sending the Bulldogs' right-hander packing after three and two-thirds innings pitched.
Reaching on one of his two walks, sophomore third baseman Carson DeMartini stole second base and moved up 90 feet on the accompanying throwing error to set Christian Martin up with a prime scoring opportunity. Martin proceeded to take full advantage of the situation, singling in DeMartini before going first-to-third on Jack Hurley's base hit that led to the Hokies' fourth run.
Hackenberg continued to hold Bryant (1-4) at bay, striking out the side during the top of the fifth inning en route to racking up six consecutive strikeouts. Tech had a chance to provide its second-year arm insurance during the bottom of the inning, despite leaving David Bryant stranded in scoring position in the wake of his leadoff fly ball that had dropped for a cloudy-day double.
Fourth-year reliever Henry Weycker picked up Hackenberg after seven innings, securing the six-out save – his first of the season. Weycker sandwiched his three strikeouts during the ninth inning around a two-out single by John Hosmer, who recorded two of the Bulldogs' five hits during the game.
UP NEXT
No. 14 Virginia Tech will look to clinch its first home series win of the 2023 season on Sunday, Feb. 26, when it hosts the series finale against Bryant at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch between the Hokies and the Bulldogs 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: (2-26-2023) BSB: Bryant Game 2