BLACKSBURG – Riding another monster offensive performance by fifth-year slugger Chris Cannizzaro and shutdown pitching by junior reliever Christian Worley on Saturday, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team collected its fifth straight victory by defeating Charlotte, 6-3, to clinch the teams' weekend series at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Arguably the hottest hitter in America this week, Cannizzaro cracked four or more hits for the third time spanning four starts, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Including him hitting for the cycle on Feb. 26 against Bryant, the veteran outfielder has now registered 16 hits (eight extra-base hits) during his last 21 at-bats, slugging 1.571 with a 2.333 OPS.
Complimenting Cannizzaro's bat, Worley inherited a 4-3 ballgame from starter Drue Hackenberg during the top of the fifth inning and proceeded to shove for Virginia Tech (8-2). Worley struck out seven, allowed two hits and walked none, retiring 12 consecutive batters to end the game and improve to 2-0 this season.
Overshadowed in good nature by Cannizzaro, junior catcher Gehrig Ebel set a career high with three hits on Saturday, grinding out Tech's first run during the bottom of the second inning. Having singled off starter Collin Kramer, Ebel moved up via balk, tagged legally to third base (as held up by the 49ers' unsuccessful appeal and challenge) and soon scored when Austin Knight made an errant inning-ending throw to put out Clay Grady.
Christian Martin prolonged the defensive inning for Charlotte (5-6), singling Grady over to third base during the next at-bat. Cannizzaro then followed with his RBI stroke to left field, plating Grady to supply Tech with its second unearned run of the inning.
Ebel rocketed a double down the left field line to open the fourth inning and had no trouble scoring when Martin's fly ball to right field met the 49ers' colliding fielders for a non-traditional triple. On a 2-0 count, Cannizzaro proceeded to bring Martin in with his RBI double to left field, padding the Hokies' lead at 4-0.
Charlotte made its move on Hackenberg during the top of the fifth inning, capitalizing with two quick swings of the bat.
Gifted two leadoff bases by error, Jack Dragum scored easily on Kaden Hopson's RBI single, though was contested by Tech to have missed third base on his way in. Following the Hokies' lengthy yet unsuccessful appeal and challenge, Knight hit the resuming pitch clear of the park for a two-run home run, snapping Hackenberg's streak of 11 and one-third innings pitched without allowing an earned run.
Behind Worley's full command of the 49ers' lineup, Tech provided him two insurance runs courtesy of an RBI single by Ebel and a solo home run by Cannizzaro – his fifth of the season.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will play for the sweep and its sixth straight win on Sunday, March 5, when it hosts the series finale against Charlotte. First pitch between the Hokies and the 49ers at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Gallery: (3-4-2023) BSB: Charlotte Game 2