B-Rad Guides No. 16 Baseball to Series Win

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Lefthander Bryan Radziewski continued his dominance of Boston College with his fourth career win against the Eagles Saturday night, guiding No. 16 Miami to a series victory in its opening ACC weekend with a 5-2 victory.

Radziewski (1-2), who tossed a complete game shutout of the Eagles on the road in 2013, set down 10 of the first 11 batters he faced.

The Miami, Fla., native went a season-long 7.0 innings and struck out eight batters, scattering three hits and three walks in the impressive effort.

“I was thinking not to walk anyone,” Radziewski said of his mentality entering the start. “I had three walks today – that’s what I’ve been focusing on. We all know the start at Florida State, I walked three straight batters [to open the game]. I tried to be more in the zone, pitch to contact, and it worked out for me.”

With the win, Miami improved to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. The Hurricanes chased Boston College starter Andrew Chin after just 5.0 innings and 82 pitches.

“Every win in the ACC is big,” head coach Jim Morris said. “Chin is pretty good. He has good stuff, he locates good, he’s a good pitcher…we felt like he was there best pitcher coming in.”

An RBI single from sophomore David Thompson in the bottom of the fourth broke a scoreless deadlock. Freshman Willie Abreu knocked a one-out double over the head of Boston College leftfielder Logan Hoggarth to open the action.

“I got a nice fastball. It was a good pitch away, but I got the barrel on the ball and I was fortunate enought ot get it over the leftfielder’s head,” Abreu said of his double. “I was able to get a good pitch and drive it.”

He scored on Thompson’s single up the middle just two pitches later.

“You have to run hard all the time,” he said. “As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be down, but he hit it hard enough for the [centerfielder] to make a play. I had to hustle and make sure I got home.”

Abreu scored two runs in the win and extended his hitting streak to five consecutive games. The Hialeah, Fla., native, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, has hits in 10 of his last 16 at bats dating back to the team’s series finale against Florida State (March 2).

Boston College (6-8, 0-2 ACC) responded by taking its first lead of the series with two runs in the top half of the fifth. An RBI double from Gabriel Hernandez plated one run, but a perfect relay from Tyler Palmer to Alex Hernandez to Garrett Kennedy got Eagles outfielder Tom Bourdon trying to score from first base. But a two-out RBI single from Blake Butera through the leftside off Radziewski made it 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

“I had them on two strikes and I gave them a pitch to hit and they both took advantage of it,” Radziewski said of the two runs. “That was completely my fault.”

A clutch two-out double by senior Brad Fieger knotted the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Dale Carey was plunked by Boston College starter Andrew Chin with one out, and took second on his team-leading fourth steal of the season. Fieger drove Carey in with a rip over the head of a backpedaling Hoggarth in left, tying the contest with his fifth double of the spring.

Miami (9-5, 2-0 ACC) scored three runs in the sixth to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Abreu beat a throw home on a fielder’s choice RBI from sophomore Brandon Lopez to make it 3-2, celebrating with an animated fist pump at home plate.

“I have a passion for the game. I love the game and I love my teammates,” he said. “Everytime we’re able to get a big run, I’m super excited, and I make sure everyone knows.”

Carey’s RBI triple down the leftfield line scored two runs to put Miami ahead for good at 5-2.

Radziewski (1-2) labored through the fifth, needing 31 pitches to get to the frame and ballooning his pitch count to 90. But the lefthander responded admirably, setting the side down in the sixth and seventh on 24 combined pitches. He was pulled in favor of freshman closer Bryan Garcia after 114 pitches, earning a standing ovation from 3,212 fans at Mark Light Field.

Garcia recorded his fourth save overall and third two-inning save, allowing just one hit and one walk across 35 pitches.

Miami returns to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field for game three of its series against Boston College Sunday, March 9. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Season tickets to Miami’s 2014 season at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field start for as low as $99, with a Family Plan option (two adult tickets, three youth tickets) covering all home games available for just $199. For more information, visit CanesTix.com or call (305) 284-2263.