BLACKSBURG – Behind fifth-year shortstop David Bryant's leadoff home run against his former team on Tuesday afternoon, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team cranked out its highest run total of the season as the Hokies cruised past Radford, 17-2, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
After swinging 10 home runs during his previous four seasons with the Highlanders, Bryant circled the bases for the first time in a Tech uniform, homering on the eighth pitch of his first-inning at-bat against his former teammate, Foster Seitz. Bryant went 2-for-3 for the Hokies with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored before passing the defensive torch to rookie Clay Grady with the game well decided by the sixth inning.
With Tuesday's 17-run outpouring – including its nine-run fourth inning – Virginia Tech (6-2) has now totaled double-digit runs during five of its six victories this season. The Hokies have also tallied 83 runs through their first eight games of the 2023 campaign – six more runs than the 2022 team had produced (77) through the same quantity of season-opening games.
Tech had Radford (2-6) sweating early as the Hokies followed Bryant's trip around the bags by loading the bases without a hit. With Seitz falling behind 1-0 to Eduardo Malinowski, the sixth-year infielder proceeded to scoot the next pitch through the left side for a two-RBI single that left the hosts on top, 3-0, after one inning of play.
Freshman right-hander Nick Finarelli needed six pitches to retire the Highlanders in order during his first collegiate appearance and start. Collecting four outs from five batters faced, the rookie right-hander was the first of eight Tech pitchers who combined to strike out 14 Radford batters while issuing three walks and allowing two runs.
Succeeding in his challenge, Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc successfully overturned a foul ball in Chris Cannizzaro's favor as the fifth-year outfielder was credited with his third double of the season. Despite having two runners placed into scoring position, the Hokies managed to squeeze only one run across as Eddie Eisert delivered the sacrifice fly that pushed Tech's lead to 4-0.
Cannizzaro bookended the Hokies' nine-run fourth inning with a pair of RBI singles as Tech cracked open the game with its 13-0 lead. Carson DeMartini belted a two-RBI double to right center while Carson Jones unloaded a grand slam to right field for his first home run of the 2023 season.
Radford disrupted the Hokies' shutout bid when Sully Tibbs drove in the Highlanders' lone two runs of the ballgame during the seventh inning, sending his two-RBI double down the right field line off Peter Sakellaris.
Virginia Tech closed its dominant offensive showing with a handful of career-first hits during the bottom of the eighth inning. Freshman shortstop Clay Grady recorded his first career double, sophomore utility man Warren Holzemer knocked an RBI single up the middle for his first collegiate hit and rookie outfielder Carter Newman smacked a three-run home run to left field for his first collegiate hit, earning his first swing of Tech's iconic home run sledgehammer.
On the mound, freshman Jacob Exum and redshirt-freshman Luke Jackman also made their collegiate debuts for the Hokies.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will host Charlotte during a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday, March 3. First pitch between the Hokies and the 49ers at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Gallery: (2-28-2023) BSB: Radford Game