BLACKSBURG – Behind sophomore right-hander Griffin Stieg's five shutout innings on Sunday afternoon, the Virginia Tech baseball team paired confident pitching with timely hitting to down Rhode Island, 14-2, completing the Hokies' three-game sweep at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Motoring through his second weekend start of the 2024 season, Stieg set career highs in strikeouts (seven) and innings pitched (five), retiring 10 consecutive URI batters between the first and fourth innings. Tech's second-year hurler walked one and scattered two hits – none until the fourth inning – twice stranding runners at third base with key inning-ending strikeouts.
Offensively, Virginia Tech (5-2) backed Stieg with four runs during the bottom of the third inning before putting the game away with its nine-run fifth inning – the Hokies' sixth big inning of nine runs or more since the start of the 2022 season. Leading, 13-0, Tech managed to rest Stieg after 76 pitches (52 strikes) and soon every one of its starting position players down the stretch, coasting to its third double-digit victory of the young season.
Junior third baseman Carson DeMartini opened the Hokies' scoring during the third inning, tripling in Christian Martin from first base to improve his hitting streak to eight consecutive games (dating back to 2023). After Chris Cannizzaro's four-pitch walk had extended Tech's two-out rally, Garrett Michel made the Rams pay with his three-run home run to left center field, trotting the Hokies out to the 4-0 lead.
Defensive miscues hurt Rhode Island (1-5) during the bottom of the fifth inning, inviting Tech to bring 14 batters to the plate despite only one extra-base hit – a ground-rule double by DeMartini.
Down by four runs, URI starter Connor Grotyohann did not help his cause by hitting Martin a second time to open the inning and committing the throwing error on DeMartini's chopper that advanced the two Hokies into scoring position. In relief of Grotyohann, Zach Fernandez pegged Cannizzaro to load the bases, soon allowing the first of five unearned runs to score by throwing a wild pitch to Michel.
With three ducks on the Tech pond, freshman designated hitter David McCann cracked a two-RBI single through the right side – the first of three consecutive run-producing singles by the Hokies. Ben Watson and Gehrig Ebel both took their ensuing RBI hits to left field, extending the hosts' lead to 9-0 with only one out recorded.
Grady beat out the potential inning-ending double play and took 90 more feet when Scott Penney threw errantly to first base while trying to complete the sequence. Watson rounded third base and scored easily for Tech's 10th run of the ballgame while Martin introduced another RBI single into the outfield, pushing the home lead to 11-0.
Ironically, DeMartini's ground-rule double to right center field did not score a run, despite setting the table for Cannizzaro's ensuing at-bat. The sixth-year outfielder proceeded to close the festivities with his two-RBI single into left field, leaving the Hokies plenty of insurance to secure the weekend sweep.
Carson Ohl picked up on the mound where Stieg left off, retiring the Rhode Island side in order during the sixth inning. However, the Rams broke up the shutout on Ohl during the seventh inning, scoring their lone runs of the ballgame on RBI doubles by Eric Genther and Brody Levin.
Madden Clement and Preston Crowl finished by posting a pair of scoreless innings as Virginia Tech's pitching staff combined to hold URI to two runs on six total hits, issuing 11 strikeouts and one walk.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will take its three-game winning streak on the road this Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Radford. First pitch between the Hokies and the Highlanders at Sherman Carter Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Gallery: (2-25-2024) BSB: Rhode Island Game 3