No. 9 Miami Drops Opener at No. 25 Virginia Tech, 9-7
April 9, 2010
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Despite leading 6-1 in the sixth, No. 9 Miami dropped its series-opener at No. 25 Virginia Tech Friday night, falling 9-7 on a cold night at English Field. Trailing by five going into the bottom of the sixth, the Hokies rallied to score five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to gain a two-run lead that would eventually hold.
The loss was just the third in Atlantic Coast Conference play for the Hurricanes (22-8, 10-3 ACC) while the win for the Hokies (22-10, 7-6) pushed them a game over .500 in league play.
After Miami scored a run in the top seventh the break a 6-6 tie, Ronnie Shaban smacked a three-run homer to right-center of UM reliever Eric Whaley in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hokies the lead for good.
Whaley (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing the three runs on two hits while walking one and striking out three in an inning of work. Virginia Tech reliever Ben Rowen (2-0) earned the win, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless to end the game.
Yasmani Grandal recorded his eighth multi-hit game in UM’s last 10 contests, going 4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Chris Pelaez also had a strong night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a three-run homer.
Both starters pitched well through five but were hit around in the sixth. UM starter Chris Hernandez allowed five runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out four in 5 2/3 innings while Virginia Tech starter Justin Wright allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out six in six innings of work.
Five Hokie hitters recorded multiple hits, including Shaban, who finished 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Steve Domecus started the scoring in the bottom of the third with a solo homer to left to give the Hokies the one-run advantage.
Miami quickly responded with two runs in the top of the fourth on a Harold Martinez double. Scott Lawson led off the frame reaching on a hit-by-pitch, before a single up the middle by Grandal put runners on the corners. Martinez proceed to double off the warning track in right, scoring Lawson and eventually Grandal, who advanced on an error by the second baseman on the relay in.
The `Canes added four more runs two innings later to take a 6-1 lead in the sixth. A one-out single by Grandal followed by a fielding error on the Hokies put runners on the corners for Pelaez, who smacked his sixth homer of the year off the scoreboard in right to put the `Canes up four. Nathan Melendres then doubled, reached third on a wild pitch and then home on a passed ball for the fourth run of the frame.
Virginia Tech immediately got those runs back and more in the bottom of the sixth however, scoring five to tie the game up at 6-6. An RBI single to left by Shaban scored the Hokies’ first run of the inning before a wild pitch scored another to make it 6-3. Sean Ryan then hit a two-run homer to pull the Hokies to within one, before a walk, a stolen base and a single to left by Domecus tied it up.
UM re-took the lead in the seventh, getting a run to take a 7-6 advantage. With runners on the corners and two outs, Michael Broad singled to left, scoring Stephen Perez for the lead.
The Hurricanes mounted a late rally after the Hokies took the 9-7 lead, putting runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the ninth but a Melendres line drive back up the middle was snagged by Rowen to secure the win for the Hokies.
Game two of the three-game set is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. Lefty Eric Erickson (2-1, 3.12 ERA) will take the mound for the `Canes while righty Mathew Price (4-1, 4.26 ERA) will throw for the Hokies. The game will be televised live on FS Florida.
