Freitas' Catch Holds Off Virginia Tech, 11-9
April 20, 2007
Blacksburg, Va.. – Left fielder Nick Freitas caught a fly ball that looked to be the game-tying home run at the wall and Danny Gil saved his third game of the season as Miami won the Atlantic Coast Conference series opener over Virginia Tech, 11-9, Friday night in front of an English Field record crowd of 3,132 fans on an emotional night on the Virginia Tech campus. Scott Maine (3-5) limited the Hokies (17-20, 4-15 ACC) to five runs, only one earned, in six innings for the Hurricanes (23-17, 9-10 ACC).
Dennis Raben led Miami going 3-for-5 with one RBI. His streak of consecutive games with a home run came to an end at four. Mark Sobolewski and Richard O’Brien each had two hits for the Hurricanes. Maine scattered four hits over six innings before giving way to David Gutierrez in the seventh. Gutierrez tossed 1 2/3 innings. Raben recorded an out in 1/3 of an inning. Gil allowed one run on two hits in the ninth.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Warren Schaeffer launched a fly ball deep to left field. Freitas made the catch just as the ball was going over to end the game. Virginia Tech came within, 11-9, on Bryan Thomas’ two-out RBI single.
Miami scratched across a run in the top of the ninth. Richard O’Brien singled and advanced to third on an error after Ryan Jackson’s fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt. With one out, Roger Tomas beat out a throw on an apparent double play, which scored O’Brien making it, 11-8.
Yonder Alonso’s 11th home run of the season put Miami ahead, 10-5, in the top of the eighth. The Hokies loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth. Anthony Sosnoskie had a pinch-hit three-run double with two outs pulling the Hokies within, 10-8.
O’Brien’s double down the left field line scored Jemile Weeks in the top of the seventh putting the Canes ahead, 8-5. Jackson singled to center field with the infield drawn in giving the Hurricanes a 9-5 lead in the top of the seventh.
Miami broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the fifth. Sobolewski singled and Weeks walked. Gus Menendez singled to center field scoring Sobolewski to make it, 6-5. Jackson’s sacrifice fly one out later brought in Weeks putting UM ahead, 7-5.
Trailing 4-1, Miami exploded for four runs in the top of the third to take a 5-4 lead. Tomas was hit by a pitch. Alonso walked and Raben singled. Sobolewski hit a two-run double with no outs getting UM within, 4-3. Weeks and Menendez followed with back-to-back RBI groundouts putting UM ahead by one run.
Luke Padgett’s sacrifice fly scored Sean O’Brien in the bottom of the third to tie the game.
Virginia Tech took advantage of a few Miami miscues to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Jose Cueto Cueto singled to left field and stole second. Foley reached on a throwing error by Jackson at shortstop, which allowed Cueto to score. After Sean Ryan was hit by pitch, Matt Hacker’s RBI scored Matt Foley. Hacker and Ryan then pulled off a double-steal with Ryan stealing home putting Tech ahead, 3-1. Hacker stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher giving Tech a 4-1 lead.
The Hurricanes loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning as Tekotte walked, Tomas singled and Yonder Alonso walked. Raben’s RBI single brought Tekotte putting the Hurricanes ahead, 1-0, and keeping the bases loaded. Sobolewski struck out swinging for the first out. Alonso was picked off second for the second out. Weeks struck out swinging to end the first inning.
Eight different Virginia Tech players had one hit in the game. Adam Redd took the loss as he allowed seven earned runs in five innings, walked five and struck out six.
Miami and Virginia Tech will continue their series Saturday at 5 p.m. at English Field. Miami RHP Enrique Garcia will face Virginia Tech RHP Greg Fryman.
Game Notes: Miami head coach Jim Morris presented a check for $10,000 on behalf of the University of Miami during a pre-game … Miami players wore black wristbands in memory of the victims of Monday’s tragedy at Virginia Tech.
