Hokies Sweep Bulldogs Behind Impressive Debut From Hackenberg

By Ryan Duvall

Staff Writer

February 20, 2022

BLACKSBURG - UNC Asheville second baseman Ty Kaufman dug his cleats into the batter's box down 1-2 in the count to Virginia Tech’s true freshman pitcher, Drue Hackenberg.

Hackenenberg winded into his pitching motion and pumped out a low-90s fastball that screamed past Kaufman’s swinging bat.

Four pitches into his collegiate career, Drue Hackenberg –– a top-five right-handed pitching recruit in Virginia –– recorded his first strikeout in Blacksburg.

The freshman pitcher, who got the starting nod from head coach John Szefc, remained cool throughout his start and shut down the Bulldogs for five scoreless innings. Hackenberg allowed only one hit and one walk while racking up a respectable four strikeouts in five innings of work.

Hackenberg was able to keep Bulldog batters off balance with a mix of pitches.

“Fastball, changeup, curveball…maybe a cutter or slider, but I’m most comfortable with the first three,” Hackenberg said of his pitching arsenal.

His efforts helped lead Virginia Tech (3-0) to a 10-4 win over UNC Asheville (0-3) to sweep the first series of the 2022 season. Each of Tech’s starters posted five scoreless innings over the weekend.

The first third of the game started out slow. Sophomore outfielder Jack Hurley had the only hit through four frames, a single in the second inning.

Hurley, who hit 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs Sunday, started off the season in good fashion, batting .417 with 5 RBIs in Tech’s first series.

The sophomore wants improve on a solid freshman campaign in which he was named a 2021 College Baseball Nation Second Team Freshman All-American but suffered a few slumps along the way.

“I got a lot stronger mentally,” said Hurley about changes to his game from last season. “I think [I’m] just trying to take advantage of the starters…just attacking at all times, not letting go.”

The Hokies picked up the scoring in the middle innings. Carson DeMartini –– who for the first time this season didn’t homer –– singled up the middle to get the party started in the third. Then came a four-run fourth inning, three-run fifth and two-run sixth.

Virginia Tech led 10-0 going into the seventh inning thanks to some great all-around production. Six Hokies had at least one RBI, including multiple from Hurley and first baseman Lucas Donlon.

Tech’s production said a lot about its depth, as outfielder Gavin Cross and catcher Cade Hunter, two of the Hokies’ premier players, were not in the lineup Sunday.

Tech’s bullpen did struggle, though, a recurring issue from last season. The Hokies gave up four runs in the final three innings and had to use five relievers to close the game.

Coach Szefc wasn’t impressed with the performance but noted that he expected some early struggle from his relievers.

“A little up and down,” Szefc said of his relievers’ performance. “Some guys’ first time back out there. It’s a long season, and you got to keep running guys out there. But [Kieran] Higgins and [Grant] Umberger have got to be better, for sure.”

Higgins got into jams in the sixth and seventh innings but managed to escape the sixth with three straight strikeouts. He was not so lucky in the seventh and got tagged for two runs to end his day.

Umberger started the top of the ninth in an effort to close the game out but struggled and couldn't finish, giving up one hit, two walks and two runs.

Left-handed graduate transfer Ryan Kennedy got the last out.

Virginia Tech next hosts East Tennessee State, who also started the season 3-0, Tuesday at 4 p.m.