Virginia Tech Evens Series with No. 11 Miami, 7-4
April 25, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 11th-ranked University of Miami baseball team dropped the second game of a three-game set against Virginia Tech, 7-4, Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. After being held hit-less through the first three innings, the Hokies scored six runs on seven hits in the fourth inning to even the weekend series.
Miami drops to 28-14 overall and 12-11 in Atlantic Coast Conference play while Virginia Tech improves to 25-16 and 10-12 in league play.
After going hitless the first three innings, the Hokies broke the game open in the fourth, scoring six runs on seven hits to take a five-run lead. Three straight singles by Mike Kaminski, Ronnie Shaban and Michael Seaborn brought home the first three runs before a two-run double off the bat of Sosnoskie put the Hokies up four. Three batters later, Steve Bumbry’s RBI single put the Hokies up five and forced UM starter David Gutierrez out of the contest.
Gutierrez (2-5) lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out six in a losing effort. Kevin Youst pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief of Gutierrez, striking out a career-high four before handing it over to Michael Rudman. Rudman finished out the game for the `Canes, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out a season-high six over the final 3 innings
Justin Wright (5-1) allowed just two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out a career-high 10 in eight innings of work to earn the victory for the Hokies. Brandon Fisher came on in the ninth and allowed two late runs before Ben Rowen recorded the final out of the game to earn his third save of the year.
Yasmani Grandal and Scott Lawson each had two hits for UM. Grandal finished the night 2-for-4 with a homer, a double and two runs scored while Lawson also went 2-for-4.
Klint Reed and Austin Wates each went 2-for-5 for the Hokies while Buddy Sosnoskie finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Four other Hokies had one RBI on the night, including Shaban who also had two runs scored.
Grandal’s solo homer to left in the bottom of the second – his team-leading 12th homer of the season – started the scoring and put the `Canes up 1-0 after two.
Up 6-1 in the eighth, Virginia Tech added a run a balk brought home Shaban from third.
The `Canes rallied in the ninth, scoring three runs before leaving two stranded to end the game. Pinch-hitting to lead off the bottom of the ninth, freshman David Villasuso hit his first career homerun to start UM’s inning. After a double and an infield single put runners on first and third, back-to-back singles by Dave DiNatale and pinch-hitter Iden Nazario brought the score to 7-4 but the rally ended there for UM.
The Hurricanes and the Hokies will play the final game of the of the three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Left-hander Iden Nazario (4-2, 6.28 ERA) will take the mound for UM while Virginia Tech will counter with Mathew Price (3-2, 5.90 ERA).
Game Notes
– Yasmani Grandal hit his team-leading 12th homer of the season in the bottom of the second inning.
– Kevin Youst struck out a career-high four in 2 1/3 innings.
– Michael Rudman struck out a season-high six in 3 innings.
– Scott Lawson (2-for-4) has recorded two hits in each game of the series.
– Freshman Thomas Powers made his second start of the season at shortstop.
– Freshman David Villasuso hit his first career homerun, pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth for Miami. The pinch-hit homerun was the first since April 18, 2007, when Jemile Weeks accomplished the feat against the University of North Florida.
