BLACKSBURG – With 14 of its position players swinging at least one hit on Tuesday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team stylishly flexed its "Hammerin' Hokies" moniker against George Mason, scoring early and often during its 24-5 rout of the Patriots at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Fifth-year outfielder Ben Watson went 5-for-5 to lead Virginia Tech (26-12), which tied its highest runs total during head coach John Szefc's tenure in addition to setting a new high for hits (26). Sporting his first five-hit game in a Tech uniform, Watson elevated his season batting average by 20 points to .412, registering his fifth consecutive multi-hit performance spanning a week's worth of games.
Junior third baseman Carson DeMartini blasted two home runs for the Hokies, trotting around the bases for the 16th and 17th times this season. With DeMartini's second homer marking the 42nd of his collegiate career, he tied Andrew Rash (2010-13) for the most home runs hit by a Virginia Tech player during the program's ACC era, dating back to 2005.
Tech fell behind, 2-0, during the top of the first inning as George Mason (17-21) received a clutch, two-out home run by left fielder Ben Jones.
However, the Hokies responded with an offensive clinic, bringing 14 batters to the plate while rallying for nine runs on nine hits, including back-to-back-to-back home runs by DeMartini, Gehrig Ebel and David McCann. Eddie Micheletti Jr. and Chris Cannizzaro bookended the nine-run inning with a pair of two-RBI knocks – Micheletti slapped his through the right side of the infield while Cannizzaro threaded his through the left side; one of his two hits during the first inning alone.
Despite George Mason chipping two runs off Tech's lead during the third inning, Virginia Tech countered with four runs during the bottom of the third inning, rushing out to the 13-4 advantage. The Hokies added two more four-run frames during the fifth and sixth innings, finishing their onslaught with Warren Holzemer's three-run home run during the seventh inning – the first of the junior's collegiate career.
Freshman right fielder Nick Locurto earned the second outfield start of his rookie season, hitting a bases-clearing, three-RBI triple during the bottom of the sixth inning. In doing so, all nine Virginia Tech starters recorded at least one hit during the contest.
Left-hand starter Madden Clement pitched two and one-third innings for the Hokies, tying his season high for strikeouts (four) despite allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits. Jacob Exum followed with one and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief prior to Brady Kirtner, David Shoemaker, Carson Ohl and Andrew Sentlinger issuing scoreless relief innings as well.
Virginia Tech set a season high with 12 extra-base hits on Tuesday night, including two each by DeMartini (two homers), Ebel (double, homer), McCann (double, homer) and Watson (two doubles).
Jake Bulter led the Patriots with his 3-for-4 outing, doubling during the ninth inning off Ryan Buckler.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech will open a three-game ACC series at No. 15 North Carolina on Friday, April 26. First pitch between the Hokies and the Tar Heels at Boshamer Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Gallery: (4-23-2024) BSB: George Mason Game