BLACKSBURG – Led at the plate by sophomore Carson DeMartini's 4-for-4 afternoon on Wednesday, the No. 11 Virginia Tech baseball team tidied up its eighth consecutive victory, finishing off UMass Lowell, 7-4, to sweep the teams' two-game midweek set at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
DeMartini notched his second career four-hit game (his first since March 2022), directing four singles around the yard in addition to drawing a walk during the third inning. Tech's Preseason All-American third baseman contributed a pair of RBI singles during the sixth and eighth innings – the latter of which brought home a critical insurance run that cemented the Hokies' 7-4 lead with three outs left to collect.
Continuing one of the country's hottest hitting streaks, fifth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro tallied three or more hits for the seventh consecutive game, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. Since Feb. 26, Cannizzaro – who entered Wednesday leading all NCAA Division I players in hits – has batted 25-for-38 (.658) with five doubles, two triples, four home runs, 14 runs and 13 RBIs.
Virginia Tech (11-2) scored during six of its eight offensive innings, building the 5-0 advantage by the end of the fifth inning. DeMartini and Cannizzaro combined to yield seven of the Hokies' 10 hits while Jack Hurley introduced two run-scoring ground balls that resulted in three runs (via two RBIs and an error).
Following a scheduled, one-inning start by Kiernan Higgins, rookie left-hander Andrew Sentlinger went six up, six down for Tech, ending his outing with a swinging fastball strikeout of Robert Gallagher. Fellow southpaw Grant Umberger backed Sentlinger's winning line with three strikeouts during two scoreless relief innings on the mound while four Hokies hurlers combined to carry the team the rest of the way.
Having provided the go-ahead RBI fielder's choice during the first inning, Hurley arrived with the bases loaded during the third inning and proceeded to do the same. With David Bryant scoring easily from third base, shortstop Roddy Hernandez overthrew Conor Kelly at first base while attempting to complete the inning-ending double play, allowing Cannizzaro to come home and put Tech ahead, 3-0.
Batting in the nine spot, Christian Martin added to the Hokies' lead during the bottom of the fourth inning, connecting on an RBI triple – his third of the 2023 season. DeMartini kept Tech's offense motoring during the fifth inning, beating out a leadoff single and later scoring the Hokies' fifth run as Brody Donay became a hit batsman with the bases loaded.
UMass Lowell (2-9) crept into the game during the top of the eighth inning, digging into freshman right-hander Griffin Stieg. After Stieg had walked a pair of River Hawks, Gallagher parked a three-run home run beyond the fence in right center, trimming Tech's lead to 6-4.
With UMass Lowell loading the bases behind Gallagher's home run, Jonah Hurney was tasked with collecting the game's final four outs, successfully denying the River Hawks to clinch his first save of the season.
Upon improving to 9-1 on its current home stand, Virginia Tech is now off to its best 13-game start to the regular season since the 2013 campaign (11-2).
UP NEXT
No. 11 Virginia Tech will open ACC play on Friday, March 10, with the first of three home games against Boston College. First pitch between the Hokies – winners of eight straight games – and the Eagles – winners of nine straight games entering Wednesday – is scheduled for 2 p.m. at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Gallery: (3-8-2023) BSB: UMass Lowell Game 2