simonelli lifts hokies to series-tying victory

Ryan Wilkes

May 1, 2021

BLACKSBURG 一 Virginia Tech (23-16, 16-13 ACC) used the home crowd and an electric performance from Anthony Simonelli to even up the three-game weekend series against rival Virginia (21-20, 12-17), 6-3.

Simonelli was not phased by the big stage, throwing seven frames, giving up just two hits and not allowing a runner to reach base until the fifth inning. The junior from Winchester, Va. shut down a Virginia offense that had posted 18 runs the previous night.

The Tech offense responded after plating just one run in the opening game of the series.

Kevin Madden kicked off a three-run second inning, punching an RBI single right past the outstretched glove of second baseman Max Cotier. In the third inning, Fritz Genther delivered a bases-loaded two-run single and Tanner Schobel followed up with a single of his own to give Tech the 6-0 lead.

The Cavaliers found some life in the seventh after Gavin Cross dropped a hard line drive from Devin Ortiz, which allowed Ortiz to get all the way to third. Kyle Teel then grounded out to TJ Rumfield which brought Ortiz across to score.

Simonelli wouldn’t let the one Virginia run phase him as he froze Nic Kent with a breaking ball that seemingly fell off a table to end the inning. Simonelli jumped off the mound, pounding his chest as the Hokie crowd erupted.

Graham Firoved took over for the Hokie ace in the eighth and immediately found himself in a jam.

With bases loaded, Firoved airmailed a pitch over the head of catcher Dayne Leonard, allowing a Virginia baserunner to score from third, cutting the Hokie lead to four runs.

The Cavaliers loaded the bases again, but this time Firoved used the Tech crowd to his advantage, striking out Ortiz to end the inning.

In the ninth, Virginia had runners on the corners with one out, facing closer Shane Connolly.

Similar to the eighth, Virginia got another run back via a wild pitch. Connolly walked the next hitter, giving the Cavaliers runners on first and second with the tying run at the plate.

Zach Gelof sent one right back up the middle, but it found the glove of Tanner Schobel who got the out at first, sending the Hokie faithful into a frenzy.

The Tech victory evens the series at one, setting up a Sunday evening rubber match. The first pitch of the Commonwealth Clash finale is at 6 p.m. at Atlantic Union Bank Park.