Tekotte, No.1 Hurricanes Homer Past Hokies

May 9, 2008

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Junior centerfielder Blake Tekotte tied a school record with three home runs and Miami hit five home runs in a game for the third time this season as the No. 1 ranked Hurricanes (40-5, 21-2 ACC) won its 40th game with a 12-4 win over Virginia Tech (20-29, 4-21 ACC) Friday evening at English Field. Yonder Alonso and Dennis Raben also both homered for Miami, which scored at least 10 runs for the 21st time this season.

Tekotte ended up 3-for-3 with four RBI and four runs scored. Raben and Yasmani Grandal each added a pair of RBI.

Freshman lefty Chris Hernandez improved to 9-0 for Miami. He struck out six in 6 2/3 innings and gave up just two earned runs on nine hits. Kyle Bellamy and Carlos Gutierrez held Virginia Tech to one unearned run and one hit in the final 2 1/3 innings.

Virginia Tech starter Rhett Ballard dropped to 3-7 as he allowed eight runs, six earned and struck out four. Sean Ryan, Austin Wates, Klint Reed and Chris Kay each had two hits for the Hokies, who out-hit Miami, 10-8.

Raben’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth made it, 10-3. After Adan Severino’s double, UM tacked on two more runs to go ahead, 12-3 A Virginia Tech error with two outs scored Ryan Jackson and Severino giving Miami a 12-3 lead. The Hokies scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth getting within, 12-4.

Grandal’s two-run single with the bases loaded highlighted a four-run eighth inning for the Hurricanes pushing their lead to 8-3. After Raben reached on a fielder’s choice, Jackson hit his team-leading 17th double and Severino was intentionally walked. Dave DiNatale reached on an error allowing Raben to score giving Miami a 5-3 lead. Grandal then drove the third pitch he saw through the hole between first second and second extending the Miami lead to 7-3. Tekotte’s sacrifice fly allowed DiNatale to score from third as UM led by five runs.

Tekotte’s third home run put Miami ahead, 4-3, in the top of the sixth.

Solo home runs from Tekotte and Alonso tied the game for Miami, 3-3, in the top of the fifth. Tekotte’s second homer of the game cleared the wall in left center. One out later, Alonso slapped the third pitch he saw on an 0-2 count down the left field line for his 15th home run of the season.

Virginia Tech went ahead, 3-1, in the bottom of the third. Wates’ single in the bottom of the third forced a throw home with two outs, but Matt Hacker slid in safe after an error by the catcher.

Virginia Tech scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to go ahead, 2-1. Wates and Seaborn hit back-to-back singles leading off inning. Wates scored on an error tying the game, 1-1. Klint Reed’s RBI double gave the Hokies the one-run advantage.

Tekotte led off the game with his seventh home run of the season quickly putting the Hurricanes ahead, 1-0, in the first.

Due to the threat of inclement weather Sunday, the Hurricanes and Hokies will wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. There will be 30 minutes between games.

Game and Series Notes

Junior centerfielder Blake Tekotte recorded his second multiple home run game for the Hurricanes this season. He led off the game with his seventh homer of the season, added his eighth in the fifth inning and ninth homer in the seventh. Tekotte tied the school record set by Kevin Brown on May 27, 2001 vs. Stetson. Tekotte also homered in consecutive plate appearances for the second this season. He homered in back-to-back plate appearances in the 15-5 win at Georgia Tech in the second game of a doubleheader on April 12.Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso homered for the 15th time this season when he hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth. He now has four home runs in the last six games.Sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson extended his team lead with his 17th double in the top of the eighth.Miami hit at least five home runs in a game for the third time this season. UM hit five home runs in a 10-7 win over Boston College on March 7. The Hurricanes hit a season-high six home runs in 17-4 win over Wake Forest on March 21.Miami tallied its 13th 40-win season under head coach Jim Morris in his 15 years.