CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Celebrating a career hitting milestone in fitting fashion on Saturday afternoon, sixth-year outfielder Chris Cannizzaro batted 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs (career high) to propel the Virginia Tech baseball team to its 10-5 takedown of Charlotte at Robert and Mariam Hayes Baseball Stadium.
Sandwiched between his three-run home run during the first inning and his two-run blast during the fifth inning, Cannizzaro's soft single to right field during the third inning marked the veteran's 200th career hit. After racking up 133 hits during his four-year run at Bucknell without a multi-homer game, the Staten Island slugger delivered his second with the Hokies on Saturday, using his four-hit day to elevate his career batting average to .333 (.343 at Virginia Tech).
Cannizzaro's opening home run caught enough of the swirling winds to escape the reach of right fielder Dante DeFranco, who needed another inch in the ballpark to complete the saving catch. Instead, Cannizzaro's ball brushed DeFranco's glove, bounced off the top of the wall and into the 49ers' bullpen, allowing the Hokies to strike first for the second consecutive day.
Virginia Tech (2-0) was content early with its 3-0 lead as junior starter Wyatt Parliament opened with four scoreless, hitless innings, registering four strikeouts. With Cannizzaro's second home run contributing to the Hokies' three-run fifth inning, Parliament returned to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, though was lifted short of earning the win after walking leadoff man Kaden Hopson on four pitches.
Brady Kirtner was greeted by hard contact in relief of Parliament, surrendering a first-pitch double to Noah Furcht and a sacrifice fly to Juan Correa that put Charlotte (0-2) on the scoreboard. Despite limiting the damage, Kirtner was unable to leave the fifth inning unscathed as Clay Grady's errant infield throw allowed an unearned run to score, trimming the Hokies' lead to 6-2.
Tech regained its five-run edge during the top of the seventh inning as Garrett Michel singled in Carson DeMartini. However, the 49ers answered twice during the bottom of the seventh inning by loading the bases against Grant Manning, sliding within 7-4 on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Rene Lastres.
With Charlotte threatening to creep closer, left-hand reliever Matthew Siverling caught Shane Taylor looking at strike three, shutting the door on the 49ers' rally. Momentum soon manifested again in the Hokies' favor when senior catcher Gehrig Ebel opened the eighth inning with his 369-foot leadoff homer, despite it being matched soon after by Carson Bayne's solo shot.
On the strength of its 13-hit day, Virginia Tech tacked on two runs during the ninth inning courtesy of Sam Tackett's two-RBI base hit. Jacob Stretch fell behind in closing by allowing two Charlotte base runners to reach, though recovered to squash the rally without conceding a run.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will eye its first sweep of the 2024 campaign on Sunday, Feb. 18, when the Hokies finish their three-game, season-opening weekend at Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Robert and Mariam Hayes Baseball Stadium.
Gallery: (2-17-2024) BSB: Charlotte Game 2