No. 11 Miami Takes Series From Virginia Tech, 11-3
April 26, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Iden Nazario struck out seven in five innings of work to win his fifth game and Kyle Bellamy recorded his eighth multi-inning save of the year as No. 11 Miami beat Virginia Tech, 11-3, Sunday afternoon at Alex Rodriguez Park.
The win secured Miami’s (29-14, 13-11) fifth Atlantic Coast Conference series win of the season as well as its fifth straight over Virginia Tech (25-17, 10-13) since the two teams joined the ACC.
After scoring three runs in the second and three more in the fifth, the Hurricanes took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh before a five-run inning for the `Canes put the game out of reach.
For the second straight weekend, Nazario (5-2) turned in a quality start, allowing just two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in five-plus innings. Daniel Miranda relieved Nazario in the sixth and allowed one run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings and Sam Robinson recorded one out in the seventh before Bellamy tossed the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his league-leading 12th save of the season. For Bellamy, it also marked his seventh appearance this season of at least two innings.
Offensively for UM, five Hurricanes finished with two hits. Chris Herrmann and Harold Martinez has the most productive days however, with Herrmann going 2-for-3 with two walks, a homer, three RBI and three runs scored and Martinez finishing 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. DiNatale, who also scored twice, finished 2-for-3 while Ted Blackman and Scott Lawson each had two hits and a run.
Mathew Price (3-3) suffered the loss for the Hokies, allowing six runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings. Clark Labitan tossed 1 1/3 scoreless in relief of Price before Brandon Fisher, Ronnie Shaban and Dave Zappacosta finished the game out for the Hokies.
Martinez put the `Canes up 2-0 in the second with a towering two-run homer to left, scoring Herrmann, who had walked to lead off the frame. DiNatale immediately followed Martinez’s homer with a single to center and after moving to third on a stolen base and a ground out, scored from third on a Lawson single up the middle to put the `Canes up three.
The Hokies got a run back in the fourth when Mike Kaminski smacked a single to right, scoring Austin Wates from third for the first Virginia Tech run of the afternoon.
The Hurricanes scored three more runs in the fifth to go up 6-1. Lawson scored the first run of the inning on bases-loaded double-play ground out before Herrmann smacked a two-run homer to left, scoring Blackman and forcing Price out of the game.
A walk, a double and another walk loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth, forcing Nazario out of the game after he tossed five effective innings. Miranda came on in a crucial spot, induced a double-play grounder and a pop up to get UM out of the jam and allowing just one run to score.
Miami’s five-run seventh was highlighted by a Herrmann single to that got past right-fielder Kaminski and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Jason Hagerty, Yasmani Grandal and eventually Herrmann to come all the way around to score.
Austin Wates was the lone Hokie with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Hurricanes will remain at Alex Rodriguez Park for a pair of mid-week contests against North Florida (April 28) and Florida Gulf Coast (April 29) before they head to Boston College for a three-game series against the Eagles, May 1-3.
Game Notes
– Freshman David Villasuso made his first career start. Villasuso batted eighth and served as the team’s designated hitter.
– Iden Nazario’s seven strikeouts marked the sixth time in fourth time in 10 starts this season the sophomore has recorded at least seven strikeouts.
– Miami now leads the all-time series with Virginia Tech, 13-2.
– Closer Kyle Bellamy (2 1/3 IP) earned his eighth inning-plus save of the season.
– Miami scored double-digit runs for the 12th time this season.
Series Notes
– The series win for Miami was its fifth this season against an ACC team and its 23rd in its last 27 regular season ACC series.
– Miami has now won all five series against Virginia Tech since the two programs joined the ACC.
– Scott Lawson led the team in hitting over the weekend, going 6-for-12, including two hits each day.
– Chris Herrmann also had a big series offensively, going 4-for-9 with team highs in RBI (4), runs scored (5), walks (4) and on-base percentage (.615).
– Kyle Bellamy made two appearances on the weekend, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings. Bellamy earned a save in each appearance, increasing his league-high total to 12.
– Miami’s bullpen allowed just one earned run in a combined 12 innings.
