Radziewski and Perez Power Miami in ACC Opener

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Bryan Radziewski tossed a career-best seven innings without a run allowed, while sophomore Stephen Perez collected three hits and drove in one, earning Miami a 3-1 victory in its ACC-opener against Virginia Tech on Friday night at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Radziewski, making his third consecutive series-opening start, didn’t allow a single run in his career-long seven innings on the hill – improving to 2-1 on the campaign. Tonight, the southpaw was helped with timely Miami (6-8, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) hits, adding runs to the scoreboard in the process.

The Hurricanes plated two runs in the bottom of the second, which turned out to be enough for the win.

After consecutive bunt singles from UMiami’s Stephen Perez and Nathan Melendres, Zeke DeVoss walked in order to load the bases. Freshman catcher Shane Rowland hit a dribbler to second base that allowed Perez to score, but Melendres would also come around as Virginia Tech second baseman Michael Seaborn threw to home trying to tag Melendres, but the throw was high and away from catcher Chris Kay.

From there, Radziewski would take over as he worked the rest of the way allowing just two hits in his final five innings on the bump. In that span, the Miami native posted six strikeouts and allowed just a single walk.

Virginia Tech starting pitcher Joe Mantiply settled down after the two runs allowed – one unearned – in the second, going three more innings before being relieved in the sixth by Jake Joyce.

With Miami swinging the bat well and drawing walks at the plate, the Hurricanes had the bases loaded three times in the game – each time striking out to end the threat and put an end to the inning. Joyce tossed two frames for the Hokies, striking out two batters without surrendering a single hit.

In the eighth inning, the Hurricanes went to their bullpen with setup man Sam Robinson hurling a frame, striking out one and collecting outs on all three batters faced in the top-half of the frame.

UM would put an insurance run on the board in the bottom-half of the frame as Perez came through with his season-high third hit of the game – a RBI double to left that scored Dale Carey for the 3-1 advantage.

With junior closer Daniel Miranda on the mound for the ‘Canes in the ninth, the Hokies were able to get to him a bit, as Seaborn walked and Ronnie Shaban double down the left field line to cut into the Hurricanes lead, 3-1. Miranda would eventually earn his second save of the year, getting pinch hitter Gabe Ortiz to ground out back to him to close the game.

The win went to Radziewski, bouncing back after his lone loss of the season in his last outing at top-ranked Florida a week ago. The loss went to Mantiply, evening his record at 2-2 on the year.

Virginia Tech got hits at the plate from four different players, including Seaborn with a hit and RBI.

Miami used Perez’s three-hit night at the plate – adding a RBI, as well as leadoff man DeVoss tallying a hit and drawing a game-high three walks to reach base safely four times in the game.

The two teams will square off again tomorrow night at 7 p.m., with Miami looking for its sixth series victory against the Hokies in eight meetings. A pair of right-handers will toe the rubber – Miami using sophomore E.J. Encinosa (0-2, 3.94 ERA) and Virginia Tech going with Marc Zecchino (2-0, 3.32 ERA).

For more information on the University of Miami baseball team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM Baseball Team via twitter, please navigate to Twitter.com/CanesBaseball. You can also access the official UMiami Baseball blog at TheUBaseball.com.

You can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.  You can also become a fan of the ‘Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.

POSTGAME NOTES:

With the win, the Hurricanes are now…

• 6-8 overall
• 1-0 in the ACC
• 15-4 vs. Virginia Tech all-time
• 6-3 at Alex Rodriguez Park this season
• 1-3 in games when the opponent starts a left-handed pitcher
• 4-1 when they score first
• 4-1 in series openers

ACC Play Begins
The ‘Canes opened up ACC play with a win against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Miami has dominated Virginia Tech in Coral Gables, winning six of the seven matchups on its home field. The ‘Canes are now 5-3 all-time in ACC-opening games.

Tonight’s Starters
Harold Martinez and Brad Fieger swapped positions at the corners, with Fieger making his first career start at third, and Martinez making his first start of the season at first. Martinez played 10 games at first base during the 2009 season. Nathan Melendres returned to the lineup as well, playing center field after a four-game absence due to a hand injury.

Playing Small Ball
Miami looked to manufacture runs against the Hokies, bunting six different times throughout the game – with four resulting in bunt singles and one in a sacrifice. UM also had three steal attempts on the night, with two successful tries by sophomore Stephen Perez. As a team, Miami improved to 17-22 with stolen bases on the season.

Funk Continues
Runners left on base plagued the Hurricanes once again, as they left 11 men on the base paths in tonight’s game. The ‘Canes left the bases loaded in three different innings, and two on in another, with each four of the innings ending in a strikeout.

Pitching Dominates Again
Freshman starter Bryan Radziewski pitched another gem, going seven shutouts innings to earn his second career victory. It was the longest start of his career; the second time he has gone 5-plus innings without giving up a run; and his third quality start of the season. Junior Sam Robinson pitched a perfect eighth, and has yet to give up a run on the season. Closer Daniel Miranda came in and pitched a bumpy ninth, allowing his first run of the season, before closing the door on the Hokies.

Game-Saving Catch

Dale Carey made a diving catch in the top of the ninth inning to rob shortstop Tim Smalling of a potential extra-base hit. The hit would have brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Carey was inserted into the game in the bottom of the eighth as a pinch-runner and later on Stephen Perez’s RBI double. He stayed in the game as the right fielder, where he proceeded to make his clutch play.