No. 9 Miami Hits Four Homers in 9-2 Win Over the Hokies
April 10, 2010
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The ninth-ranked University of Miami baseball team hit four home runs – including two two-run blasts from Yasmani Grandal – en route to a 9-2 win over No. 25 Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at English Field. The win for Miami evened the weekend series between the Hurricanes and the Hokies, setting up a rubber game Sunday at 12 p.m.
Miami (23-8, 11-3 ACC) scored eight runs on nine hits in the first three innings, plating two in the first, one in the second and five in the third off Hokie starter Mathew Price. Grandal’s two-run blasts came in the first and third, before DeVoss smacked a three-run homer later in the third to put the `Canes up eight after three.
Miami starter Eric Erickson (3-1) turned in his best outing of the season, allowing just one earned run on four hits while walking two and striking out five in seven innings – his longest outing since going seven against Ole Miss on June 1, 2008. Travis Miller and Daniel Miranda each tossed a scoreless inning to preserve Erickson’s win.
Grandal and DeVoss each finished 2-for-4 with four RBI. Chris Pelaez hit UM’s fourth homer of the day and finished 1-for-4, Nathan Melendres went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Harold Martinez went 2-for-4 with a run.
Price (4-2) suffered the loss for the Hokies (22-11, 7-7 ACC), allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings before relievers Joe Mantiply, Jake Joyce, Marc Zecchino went the rest of the way. Ronnie Shaban was the lone Hokie with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
Miami jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two. Scott Lawson drew a two-out walk in the first before Grandal hit an opposite field blast down the line in left to put the `Canes on the board first. In the second, Melendres singled, stole second and scored on a single through the right side by DeVoss.
The Hurricanes’ big fifth inning started with a double by Lawson followed by Grandal’s second homer – this one a shot down the line in right. Singles by Martinez and Melendres then set up DeVoss’ blast off the scoreboard in right to open it up for Miami.
Two innings later, Pelaez hit his seventh homer of the year with a solo shot to right-center.
A Tony Balisteri RBI double to left in the fifth plated Virginia Tech’s first run in the fifth before a fielding error by Martinez allowed the Hokies’ second run of the game to score moments later.
UM will send righty Jason Santana (3-1, 4.46 ERA) to the hill on Sunday while Virginia Tech will counter with righty Jesse Hahn (4-2, 2.23 ERA).
