MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – Bringing its iconic home run hammer back into the national spotlight on Sunday afternoon, the No. 14 Virginia Tech baseball team slugged its first three home runs of the season as it breezed past College of Charleston, 15-2, to clinch the teams' season-opening series at The Ballpark at Patriots Point.
With Virginia Tech (2-1) controlling the 4-1 lead and lying two runs during the fourth inning, junior first baseman Eddie Eisert carried Charleston starter Aidan Hunter's 1-1 pitch to right field for a two-run home run – his first in a Tech uniform since transferring from NC State. Within the bounds of new NCAA rules prohibiting the use of on-field props, the Hokies accepted their one warning from the umpire crew as Eisert proceeded to catch and thunder the program's crowd-favorite sledgehammer to the turf.
Plagued by four errors during the fourth inning, the Cougars could not turn the outs they needed to stifle Tech's red-hot offense. Junior outfielder Jack Hurley capped the Hokies' seven-run fourth inning by delivering a three-run home run to right field while rookie catcher Garrett Michel led off the fifth inning with his first career homer – a solo shot that extended Tech's lead to 10-1.
Making his first NCAA Division I start after two seasons in the Miami (Florida) bullpen, fifth-year Anthony Arguelles held College of Charleston (1-2) to a solitary run through four innings of work, striking out six. Junior left-hander Grant Umberger followed Arguelles with three scoreless innings of relief while freshman right-hander Griffin Stieg closed the final two innings for the Hokies, logging three strikeouts.
Looking like its 2022 self, Virginia Tech rallied from 1-0 down during the first inning to drop seven of its 10 hits for extra bases during Sunday's finale.
Rookie catcher Brody Donay manifested his first collegiate start during the top of the second inning, hitting the first of the Hokies' four doubles on the afternoon. David Bryant followed during the third inning with his two-base knock that moved Christian Martin into scoring position, preempting a pair of sacrifice flies by Chris Cannizzaro and Carson DeMartini that gave Tech its first lead at 2-1.
Defense betrayed the Cougars throughout the game as Charleston was charged for six errors, resulting in eight unearned runs.
Freshman infielder Clay Grady earned his first career RBI on his first career hit during the top of the eighth inning, singling in Sam Tackett. Christian Martin later closed the Hokies' scoring with his two-RBI double during Tech's four-run ninth inning.
NOTEWORTHY
• College of Charleston's six errors are the most the Hokies have benefited from by an opponent since Feb. 18, 2018, against Oklahoma (six).
UP NEXT
No. 14 Virginia Tech will contest its home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 21, against ETSU. First pitch between the Hokies and the Buccaneers is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tickets remain on sale to Virginia Tech's five ACC home series, beginning with the Hokies' ACC-opening series against Boston College (March 10-12). Purchase your tickets today.