BLACKSBURG – Facing its final four offensive outs on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team pulled a rabbit out of a hat by plating four runs during the bottom of the eighth inning as the Hokies came from 5-3 down to stun James Madison, 7-5, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Virginia Tech (24-14) appeared to have its comeback hopes dashed when sophomore Carson DeMartini was caught stealing at second base for the second out of the eighth inning, emptying the bases with the Hokies trailing by a pair of runs.
Finding short success against JMU reliever Matt Leikus, Tech was a strike away from having its side retired when sophomore Christian Martin dropped a shallow fly ball along the left field line, sliding into second base for the double that shifted momentum towards the home team. Pinch hitting for catcher Gehrig Ebel, rookie Brody Donay was pegged in the back by a 1-1 pitch from Leikus while Garrett Michel waited out a six-pitch walk, loading the bases and sending the Dukes to their bullpen.
With James Madison (23-17) bringing on Matt Kleinfelter, the English Field faithful helped rattle the right-hander's cage, inducing a 3-1 count and the balk that scored Martin to cut the score to 5-4. Missing on his next delivery, Kleinfelter completed his walk to David Bryant, reloading the bases with the Hokies' top of the order soon due up.
Riding the ballpark's energy, Chris Cannizzaro stood tall as a pinch hitter and waited out four straight balls from Kleinfelter, pushing home Donay to tie the game at 5-5. After the Dukes had made their second call to the bullpen, Carson Jones patiently waited out a walk by reliever Joe Vogatsky – the Hokies' fifth consecutive free base – before Clay Grady slapped an RBI infield single to the left side to leave Tech lying the 7-5 lead.
Despite surrendering a leadoff single to JMU during the top of the ninth inning, left-handed vet Henry Weycker proceeded to silence the Dukes, etching his second save of the 2023 season.
Virginia Tech was limited to six hits by James Madison, including only two that produced runs – both RBI infield singles by Grady. In total, the Hokies drew 11 walks, marking their fourth double-digit tally during their last seven games.
Tech plated three runs unconventionally during the bottom of the third inning to support sixth-year starter Kiernan Higgins, who struck out four batters during his four-inning start. Bunting a run home and reaching via a single, Grady soon executed a double steal with Jones that put the Hokies ahead, 2-0, later scoring their third run as Eddie Eisert pickled the final out between first and second base.
JMU rallied for two game-tying runs against Grant Umberger during the sixth inning and took the lead during the seventh inning off Matthew Siverling. Mike Mancini delivered the two-RBI single through the left side that put the Dukes on top, 5-3.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will look to build on its theatrical win when it opens a three-game home ACC series against North Carolina on Friday, April 28. First pitch of Friday's opener between the Hokies and the Tar Heels at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are available starting as low as $5.
