BLACKSBURG, Va. – Villanova put No. 5 Virginia Tech on upset alert late, holding the Hokies without a run for six innings but ultimately fell on a walk-off ground-rule double in the bottom of the ninth, dropping a 3-2 contest at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park on Sunday.
The visiting half of the seventh saw Villanova (17-24-1) take its first lead of the day on a two-run double from
Pat O'Neill. Virginia Tech (33-10) scored a run on a solo blast from Gavin Cross in the eight to tie it, paving the way to the decisive ninth inning where Carson DeMartini played the hero for the Hokies.
Making his second starting appearance of the season,
Jonathan Cole had his longest outing of the year, going six innings with a season-best five strikeouts and just one run against him on the five hits he scattered.
Devin Rivera (1-3) produced a relief outing that saw him fan two Hokies.
O'Neill plated
John Whooley and
AJ Hansen on his double, going 1-for-4 on the day. Hansen led the team with a 2-for-4 performance from the dish, also putting down a double.
Nick Biddison picked up a lead-off single and stole second to sit in scoring position for Tanner Schobel with one out. He laced a double down the left field line, scoring Biddison to give VT an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Cole grabbed onto a stretch of seven batters retired, three on looking strikeouts, before Gavin Cross singled to right in the bottom of the third to end the sequence. The Wildcats stranded him with a fly out to center to end the inning. By the home half of the fourth, Cole was up to a new season-high of four strikeouts, sending Cade Hunter down swinging to close the fourth.
John Whooley was a hit by a pitch followed by a fielding error on Virginia Tech's third baseman Carson DeMartini to get
AJ Hansen on, as well. With two outs and facing a 1-0 count,
Pat O'Neill doubled all the way into the left field corner, bringing both runners across for Villanova's first lead of the day in the seventh.
Devin Rivera made his way to the mound in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the first batter he faced. The Hokies threatened with a runner on first and two outs. DeMartini doubled deep down the right field line with Donlon advancing to third.
AJ Hansen started a relay in to
Cameron Hassert who made the throw to
John Whooley at the plate to tag out Lucas Donlan with plenty of time, keeping the one-run lead intact heading to the eighth.
Virginia Tech tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the eight with a one-out home run to right from Cross.
Wildcats on the corners forced the Hokies to turn to their bullpen for the second time on the afternoon, bringing Kiernan Higgins (2-0) in for Henry Weycker with two outs in the top of the ninth. Both runners were left standing for the 'Cats on a groundout, forcing the game into the bottom of the ninth, still knotted at a pair.
The bottom of the ninth opened with Eduardo Malinowski getting a lead-off single for the Hokies on the first pitch he faced from Rivera. A fly out and a three-pitch backwards K put two outs on the board for Rivera and the Wildcat defense, but Donlon worked a six-pitch walk to put two on base. Facing a 1-1 count, De Martini sent a shot to left center that bounced off the field and over the wall, scoring Malinowski to end the contest.
Villanova stays on the road this week, starting with a Tuesday trip to Monmouth. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. in West Long Branch, N.J.
