Wake Forest University
Virginia
Lanzilli Homers Twice in 7-3 Win over Virginia
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Chris Lanzilli blasted a pair of home runs in a series-opening 7-3 victory over Virginia at David F. Couch Ballpark on Thursday afternoon.
Lanzilli became the first Demon Deacon (24-29, 12-16 ACC) to record a multi-homer game this year. He hit what proved to be the game-winning shot in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and added a two-run laser in the seventh to cap off the scoring against the Cavaliers (27-23, 11-17 ACC).
In what was possibly his last start in Winston-Salem, Griffin Roberts battled back from early struggles to post a quality start. He struck out seven batters over 7.0 frames, allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks.
He has struck out at least seven batters in all 13 of his starts, and gone six-or-more innings in all but one.
Bobby Seymour opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but UVA tied it on a Charlie Cody RBI single in the second inning.
DJ Poteet drilled an opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom of the second to put Wake Forest back in front, 3-1, but Virginia again answered with a sacrifice fly and run-scoring fielder's choice in the third.
Virginia hit leadoff doubles in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Roberts recovered to retire the next three hitters each time to keep the game tied.
Lanzilli broke that tie with an opposite-field solo shot in the fifth to make the score 4-3. In the sixth, Michael Ludowig walked, stole second and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Patrick Frick.
In the seventh, Lanzilli doubled Wake Forest's lead with his second longball of the evening.
Tyler Witt entered on the mound and shut out Virginia the final 2.0 innings, striking out a pair and allowing just a hit and a walk.
Poteet went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and hit-by-pitch, while Jake Mueller was 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases, and Seymour went 2-for-4.
Nate Eikhoff led Virginia by going 2-for-2 with two walks and a sac fly, while Alex Tappen, Cameron Corner and Justin Novak added two hits apiece.
Starter Derek Casey took the loss for Virginia, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings on nine hits and three walks.
Game two of the series is currently set for Friday evening at 6 p.m.
