Hurricanes Edge Hokies, 4-3
April 21, 2007
Blacksburg, Va.. – – Dennis Raben saved his second game of the season and Richard O’Brien turned in a 2-for-3 with one RBI performance while playing solid defense as Miami (24-17, 10-10 ACC) edged Virginia Tech, 4-3, Saturday evening at English Field to win the second straight game of their Atlantic Coast Conference series. Enrique Garcia struck out seven in seven innings while holding the Hokies (17-22, 4-16 ACC) to two runs on five hits to improve to 4-2.
O’Brien picked off two Hokies at first base and caught another two stealing. He also had a diving catch in the bottom of the ninth on an attempted sacrifice bunt with the leadoff batter on. Mark Sobolewski finished 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Hurricanes as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Danny Gil pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief allowing one run. He gave up two hits but walked three. Raben threw one pitch and induced a game-ending groundout for the save.
Virginia Tech threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Luke Padgett singled through the left side. O’Brien dove and caught Nate Clark’s bunt attempt in foul territory for the first out. Steve Bumbry struck out swinging before Matt Hacker was hit by a pitch. Raben got Nate Parks to ground out to shortstop to end the game.
The Hokies came within, 4-3, on Bryan Thomas’ RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. UM scratched across a run in the top of the eighth after Jemile Weeks scored from third on a wild pitch putting the Hurricanes ahead, 4-2. Miami had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth after a Ryan Jackson, Roger Tomas and Yonder Alonso all walked. With one out, Raben hit into a double play ending Miami’s threat.
Miami took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh. Gus Menendez reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Following a walk by O’Brien and Ryan Jackson’s third sacrifice bunt, Blake Tekotte’s ground out scored Menendez for a 3-2 Hurricane lead.
The Hokies quickly tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Steve Bumbry hit a one-out triple down the right field line. He scored on Matt Hacker’s squeeze bunt tying the game again, 2-2.
Sobolewski led off the top of the fifth with his fourth home run of the season tying the game, 1-1. Gus Menendez singled then took second on a throwing error by the pitcher. He scored when O’Brien dropped a single down the left field line giving Miami a 2-1 lead.
Virginia Tech scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on Jose Cueto’s sacrifice fly which scored Warren Schaeffer.
Hokie starter Greg Fryman allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings. Fryman struck out five. Bryan Thomas went 3-for-3 with one RBI while Bumbry was 2-for-3.
Miami and Virginia Tech wrap up their three-game series Sunday at 12 p.m. Freshman LHP Eric Erickson (4-3, 1.96 ERA) will face Virginia Tech LHP Andrew Wells (2-3, 4.94 ERA).
