Radziewski Delivers History Against No. 24 VT

March 23, 2013

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In a classic pitcher’s duel at Alex Rodriguez Park, southpaw Bryan Radziewski delivered one of the most scintillating performances in recent history to guide Miami to a series-clinching 2-0 victory over No. 24 Virginia Tech.

The junior lefthander, making his season debut in the weekend rotation, allowed a double to Hokies’ lead-off hitter Gary Schneider on his first pitch of the night. That was nearly all he would allow the rest of the way, fanning 16 batters in a complete game shutout, the first for a Miami pitcher since David Gutierrez did so May 31, 2009 against Jacksonville.

“I love to watch a guy the way he did pitching-wise,” head coach Jim Morris said. “It’s been a long time since we had a complete game. He pitched an outstanding game, he totally dominated for nine innings. It was fun to watch.”

16 punchouts, tied for the sixth-highest total in Miami history, were the most for a Hurricane pitcher since Joe Grahe struck out 18 in a March 17, 1989 win over Maine. After hitting Andrew Rash with a pitch in the second, Radziewski would retire 19 consecutive batters and 23 of the last 25 he faced.

“Wherever I was calling it, he was hitting the glove,” catcher Garrett Kennedy said. “That’s the main thing with all our pitchers. When they get ahead, they can work and move around.”

By night’s end, every Virginia Tech (17-7, 4-4 ACC) hitter had struck out at least once, while six fell victim to Radziewski at least twice.

The Hurricanes struck for the game’s opening run in the fifth, stringing together two extra-base hits off Hokies’ starter Devin Burke (5-1)  to jump out to a 1-0 lead. With Kennedy on second base after a one-out double, freshman Christopher Barr laced his first career triple over the glove of a diving Schneider for the hit.

“We really didn’t want to spoil his great outing,” Kennedy said. “Gino [DiMare] said ‘we can’t spoil this, Bryan is throwing a great game.’ That’s when we picked it up a little bit.”

Miami (19-7, 4-4 ACC) tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, after Michael Broad led off the inning with a single roped up the middle. Dale Carey, pinch running for Broad, landed at third after a sacrifice bunt from Ricky Eusebio and a groundout from Kennedy. Freshman Brandon Lopez connected on a grounder to short, but Virginia Tech first baseman Sean Keselica mishandled what would have been the final out of the inning. Instead, Carey raced home from third, as the Canes took a decisive 2-0 lead.

After speaking with Coach Morris eight innings and over 100 pitches into his start, Radziewski came out of the dugout for the ninth and promptly struck out Schneider to open the inning.

“I’m thankful [Coach Morris] let me go the ninth,” Radziewski said. “Usually when you have over 100 pitches at the end of the inning, they don’t let you go back out. I asked for it, and luckily I got it.”

Keselica reached via walk, but his slide on a grounder from Chad Pinder was ruled runner’s interference, a play that ended the game and sealed the first Atlantic Coast Conference series victory of the season.

“Every game in the ACC is big,” Radziewski said. “We wanted to come out and win the series tonight. We’re not done. Tomorrow we have another game, and we have to get the sweep.” 

The two teams will return to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field for the series finale Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.