BLACKSBURG – On the bat of fifth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro's two-run, walk-off home run during the bottom of the 10th inning on Friday, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team survived its back-and-forth series opener against Charlotte as the Hokies prevailed dramatically, 13-11, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Cannizzaro's homer ended an offense thriller between Virginia Tech (7-2) and Charlotte (5-5) that featured 24 combined runs, 26 combined hits and 10 extra-base knocks. Behind Cannizzaro's 4-for-6 day at the plate, junior outfielder Jack Hurley went 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBIs, two doubles and a home run while rookie designated hitter Garrett Michel added a 2-for-4 effort with his double, homer, two runs and three RBIs.
With the win, Virginia Tech earned its first extra-inning victory since March 8, 2020, when the Hokies topped Georgia Tech, 7-6, in Atlanta. Cannizzaro's game-winning homer also marked Tech's first walk-off hit since the Hokies sported consecutive walk-off wins during the 2022 season on May 8 (against Villanova) and May 11 (against Liberty).
After Charlotte had done Griffin Green in for three runs on four hits during the top of the first inning, Virginia Tech rescued its right-hand starter by stringing together four straight scoring innings to lead, 10-6.
Tech opened its offensive response with four straight singles during the bottom of the first inning. Junior cleanup batter Eddie Eisert capped the spurt by dropping his two-RBI single into shallow left field, extending his hitting streak to seven consecutive games in the process.
Connecting on two extra-base hits during his first two at-bats, Michel was the center of the Hokies' early charge back into the game. Doubling to open the second inning, the Tech freshman advanced on two infield balls to tie the game at 3-3, then unloaded a three-run home run to left field during the third inning to shoot the Hokies out to the 6-4 lead.
Both starting pitchers met their demise during the fourth inning as Green and Wyatt Hudepohl were charged for their last of six and nine earned runs, respectively. Green exited after surrendering the two-run, game-tying home run to Kaden Hopson while Hudepohl collected one out from four batters faced, leaving two runners on for Hurley to smash his three-run homer to right field.
Trading runs with Charlotte during the seventh inning, Tech headed into the eighth inning with the 11-7 advantage. With rainy conditions worsening, Henry Weycker walked a pair as the 49ers loaded the bases, introducing the potential tying run at the plate.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Charlotte's Cam Fisher followed Jake Cunningham's sacrifice fly by carrying Weycker's 2-1 pitch to right field for the game-tying home run.
Rookie right-hander Griffin Stieg picked up Weycker and carried the Hokies into extra innings, delivering two and one-third scoreless, hitless innings while striking out three. Sophomore righty Tyler Dean struck out Fisher on four pitches to deny Charlotte during the top of the 10th inning, soon collecting his first career winning decision courtesy of Cannizzaro's walk-off blast.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will eye its third series-clinching victory of the season on Saturday, March 4, when the Hokies host their second of three games against Charlotte. First pitch at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Gallery: (3-4-2023) BSB: Charlotte Game 1