The Hokies Take Game 1 vs. Georgia Tech 10-7 (4-14-23)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Lovell-LMS Network

Pre Game thoughts…

​ The Hokies enter this game coming off a tough loss to Liberty University. With the loss, Virginia Tech (18-12) had the end of its 15-game winning streak during regular season midweek contests broken. This was a feat that dated back to March 15th, 2022. They hope to turn this loss around against a red-hot Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets squad. In the Jackets’ last game, Jackson Finley hit a clutch grand slam to walk off the game against Auburn, a formidable SEC foe. Georgia Tech hopes that they can take some of that momentum into Blacksburg.

The Game begins…

​And the Jackets started the first inning with Kristian Campbell lining out to the first baseman, followed by Jake DeLeo striking out. Stephen Ried then lined a single into center field, becoming the first baserunner of the game. Angelo Dispigna then grounded out to short, ending the top of the first.
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​The Hokies lead off with Carson Jones in the bottom of the first. Jones flew out to the center field on the first pitch he saw prompting Chris Cannizzaro to enter the batter’s box. He also gives a ball a ride to center field but ultimately that also ended up in the center fielder’s glove for out number two. Jake Hurley the third batter for the Hokies also takes a ball to center but he finds success as he gets a double. Carson DeMartini fouls off several baseballs before he strikes out to end the first inning.

​At the top of the second, the Jackets sent Jackson Finley to the plate. He manages to make it to first base off of an egregious error from pitcher Anthony Argulles while trying to field a grounder. Argulles then hit batter, John Giesler, sending him to first base. Jack Rubenstein then sends a shot to right field which is fielded masterfully by the Hokies but the runner advances to third on the play. Nicholas Romano comes into the batter’s box and flies out to center allowing the runner on third to score. This is the first run of the game for either team as the Jackets lead the Hokies 1-0. Jadyn Jackson comes up and flies out to right promptly ending the top of the second inning.

​The bottom of the second begins delayed after lightning was seen in the area. The game resumed after a lengthy 39-minute delay with Christian Martin for the Hokies digging into the batter’s box. He smacks a seeing-eye single into center field and we’re off again. Brody Donay then strikes out for the first out of the inning. This brings Garrett Michel to the plate. He rockets a single into right field moving the runner over to third. Eddie Eisert comes up and works a 2-2 count when Michel takes off and manages to steal second base. Eisert then worked the count full before working a walk to load the bases up. Bases loaded for the Hokies when Clay Grady worked a walk driving in the tying run to bring the game to 1-1. Jones digs in for the second time in the game and hits a single into right field bringing home two more runs and giving the Hokies a 3-1 lead. Cannizzaro then knocked a low pitch to left field bringing in one more. The Jackets changed pitchers to Camron Hill after the hit. Hurley then flies out to center field giving the Hokies their second out of the inning. DeMartini comes up to bat and pops out in foul territory to end the inning with the Hokies leading the Jackets 4-1.

​The top of the third inning begins for the Jackets with Campbell grounding out to shortstop. DeLeo digs in and also grounds out but this time to the third baseman. Ried then comes up and lines a single to left. Dispigna then comes up and grounds out to second, ending the top of the third for the Yellow Jackets.

​The bottom of the third inning for the Hokies starts with Martin striking out, followed by a quick ground out by Donay. Michel is the third batter the Hokies bring up this inning and he also strikes out. Overall a quick third inning for both squads with the Hokies still leading 4-1.

​On to the top of the fourth inning where Finley leads off with a strikeout for the Jackets. The Jackets then bring up Giesler who muscles a single to center field. Rubenstein is the next batter for the Jackets. He sends a grounder to third who then throws to second getting them out there but they can’t pull two as Rubenstien outruns the throw being called safe at first. Romano then works a full count but can’t make anything out of it as he strikes out to end the top of the inning.

​At the bottom of the fourth, we begin with Eisert in the box for the Hokies. He manages to get a hold of a baseball but it settles into the glove of the right fielder for out number one. Grady comes up and hits a soft grounder which is picked up and thrown to first. However, the second baseman underthrows it, resulting in the first baseman missing the ball causing Grady to be safe. Jones then comes in and gets hit by a pitch. Cannizzaro worked a walk shortly thereafter bringing the bases loaded for the Hokies. Hurley sends a ball in the air to the right which is caught but on the play the runner on third scores, bringing the lead to 5-1. DeMartini is next for the Hokies and he hits a single into right, then gets thrown out trying to move to second but he gets hurt on the play. Only one of the runners scored on the unorthodox play resulting in the Hokies now leading 6-1.

​The top of the fifth begins with the Jackets’ Jadyn Jackson grounding out to second. Campbell followed that up with a single after a hard-fought at-bat where he worked the count full. DeLeo then hits a rocket into the left-center gap and makes a double out of it. Reid then hits to the opposite field resulting in a single, and a run scored on the play. This brings the score to 6-2 with the Hokies leading. The Hokies changed pitchers to Henry Weycker after the play. Dispigna strikes out, resulting in the second out of the inning for the Jackets. Finley digs in and sends a ball to right field, which is caught for the third out to end the Jackets’ half of the inning.

​The Hokies begin their half of the fifth inning sending Martin to the plate, on the first pitch he sees he lines a grounder into center field. He finds himself at first base when Donay comes up and hits a rocket to the shortstop who mishandles the ball, sending the ball into the outfield. Martin moved to third on the play. Michel comes in and grounds a ball to first, the first baseman throws home and gets them out there. Eisert then bloops a ball into right field, resulting in a double and a run-scoring. Grady then gets in on the action by sending a ball down the left-field line. The Hokies take advantage and score two on the play bringing the lead to 9-2. The Yellow Jackets then changed their pitchers to Cody Carwile. The inning isn’t over yet though as the Hokies send Jones to the plate with only one out. He strikes out, becoming the second out of the inning. This brings Cannizzaro to the plate where he ends the inning by flying out to the right fielder.

​We finally find ourselves in the later innings as the top of the sixth begins almost three hours after the first pitch. Giesler is the batter for the Jackets as he works a walk to start the inning. Rubenstien comes up next and muscles a single into right field. Romano is next, he walks, bringing the bases loaded for the Jackets. The Hokies changed their pitcher to Jacob Exum after the walk. This doesn’t seem to help though as he walks the next Georgia Tech batter on four pitches, bringing in a run. Back to the top of the lineup, we go as Campbell digs in. He sees two balls before the Hokies change pitcher yet again, bringing Brady Kirtner to pitch. On the first pitch, he throws he manages to get Campbell to fly out to right field. After the Hokies gather the first out of the inning DeLeo comes up and strikes out, becoming the second out of the inning. Reid then sends a ball that is badly mishandled by the third baseman, allowing him to reach base. Dispigna strikes out to end the inning on three pitches to end the top of the sixth.

​Into the bottom of the sixth inning and the Hokies are leading 9-4 after a very eventful top half from the Jackets. Hurley starts the Hokies out by hitting a single into center. DeMartini followed him up with a bunt to first base. This moves the runner to second and brings Martin to the plate with a runner in scoring position. He doesn’t take advantage though as he pops out to second. Donay intentionally walked after bringing Michel into the box. He works the count full before striking out to end the inning.

​The top of the seventh inning begins with the Jackets sending Finley to the plate. He strikes out on three pitches. Giesler also strikes out, bringing Rubenstein up to the plate where he also strikes out. Kirtner ultimately strikes out the side as the Jackets go 1,2,3 in this inning bringing us to the seventh-inning stretch.

As ‘Take me out to the ballgame’ finishes we enter another weather delay. The game resumes at 7:25 pm, 5 hours after the first pitch. Eiser leads off for the Hokies and he quickly flies out to the center field. Grady is up next for the maroon and orange and he grounds a single to center field. Jones then followed that up by striking out for the second out of the inning. Cannizzaro sends a grounder to the shortstop who then throws to second to finish the inning.

The 8th inning begins with the Jackets sending Romano to lead it off. He walks to begin the Jackets’ half of the inning. Hokies then strike out the next batter before the Jackets send Campbell to dig in. He proceeds to line a single to center field. DeLeo comes up after and hits a massive 3-run home run bringing the Jackets back in the game. The Hokies now lead 9 to 7. The last batter of the inning strikes out, but the Jackets are in it again at the end of the top of the eighth.

To the bottom of the eighth, we go as the Hokies send Hurley to lead it off. He hits a line drive solo shot home run to lead it off. The Hokies now take a 10 to 7 lead. DeMartini comes up after and strikes out quickly for the first out. Martin then grounds out to first base for the second out of the inning. Donay comes up and walks. He gets a pinch runner in Holzemer. The inning ends quickly after though, as a grounder to short Is tossed to first for the final out of the inning.

At the top of the ninth, the Hokies had a chance to close out the game. The Jackets ground out for the first out. Then send Giesler to the plate and he strikes out for the second out of the inning. Rubenstein digs in as the last chance for the Jackets and he flies out to right field to end the game.

Final Thoughts and What’s Next…

​What I can confidently say about this game is that it was hands down one of the longest and craziest games I’ve seen in my lifetime. This game started at 2:30 pm and didn’t end until almost 8 pm. We had rain delays and injuries galore. This game had plenty to be entertained with as both teams displayed great offensive stats. Unsurprisingly considering it was wet and was probably difficult to get any grip on the baseball. The Hokies and the Yellow Jackets are going to continue this series on April 15th, 2023 shortly after the Virginia Tech football spring game. That game’s first pitch is at 7 pm. Both of these squads want to win this series as it has major ACC implications in the standings.