Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Posting five straight scoring innings from the start of Sunday's series finale, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team easily finished off Charlotte, 12-4, to sweep the teams' three-game weekend set at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
At the center of Tech's offensive prowess, fifth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro racked up three or more hits for the fifth consecutive game, batting 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBIs. Spanning his last five starts from Sunday to Sunday, Cannizzaro – who holds a .540 season batting average and a 1.576 OPS – has now cracked 19 hits during his last 26 at-bats, producing four doubles, two triples and four home runs during the stretch.
Cannizzaro's one-out single during the bottom of the first inning put Virginia Tech (9-2) in business early against the 49ers' starter, Miles Langhorne. On the very next pitch, third baseman Carson DeMartini ripped a double to right field, leaving first base open for Eddie Eisert to turn a 1-2 count into a six-pitch walk.
Pegged square in the back on the first pitch of his ensuing at-bat, Jack Hurley collected a hard-earned RBI as a hit batsman, allowing Cannizzaro to trot home and put the Hokies ahead, 1-0. Battling Langhorne to a full count, outfielder Carson Jones proceeded to clear the bases with his three-RBI double to right center field, gifting Tech the 4-0 advantage out of the gates.
After Charlotte (5-7) had committed two errors to grant the Hokies an unearned run during the bottom of the second inning, Tech's lineup continued its mechanical style of scoring during the third inning. With Hurley aboard at second base following his one-out double to left center, rookie first baseman Garrett Michel hammered a two-run home run to a similar part of the ballpark, presenting the Hokies with a seven-run cushion.
Tech right-hand starter Anthony Arguelles retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced through three hitless innings, though ran into trouble during the top of the fourth inning. Surrendering a leadoff single to Cam Fisher and a six-pitch walk to Josh Patrick, Arguelles left his 1-1 offering to Jake Cunningham in the zone, where the 49ers' designated hitter connected on the three-run homer that dipped into the Hokies' lead.
Grant Umberger picked up Arguelles and threw two and one-third scoreless innings en route to earning his second victory of the season. Umberger allowed one hit while recording his four strikeouts consecutively, striking out the 49ers' side during the fifth inning.
Despite the game tightening, three more errors by the Charlotte defense during the fourth and fifth innings provided Tech the run support it needed to pull away for good. Cannizzaro's RBI double during the fourth inning pushed the Hokies' lead to 8-3 while rookie shortstop Clay Grady belted the big hit of Tech's three-run fifth inning, tripling for the first time over the left fielder's retreating glove.
Cannizzaro flirted with his second cycle during a five-game stretch, tripling for his third piece to no avail during the late stages of the fifth inning. Eduardo Malinowski wound up putting the dagger in Charlotte's chances with his solo home run during the seventh inning – his first of the 2023 season.
Tech's pitching staff combined to hold the 49ers to four hits (three singles), though issued 12 walks to Charlotte's four.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will head into the final week of its first 2023 home stand on Tuesday, March 7, when Tech welcomes UMass Lowell to Blacksburg for a two-game midweek series. First pitch on Tuesday between the Hokies and the River Hawks is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Gallery: (3-5-2023) BSB: Charlotte Game 3