Miami Secures Series Over Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Miami Hurricanes didn’t need a late ninth-inning rally.
Instead, the Hurricanes comeback got started a little earlier.
Miami used a five-run sixth to down the Hokies, 7-5, Saturday evening at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
“It was a great effort all the way around,” head coach J.D. Arteaga said. “[Rafe Schlesinger] got himself in some trouble early on, but he did a great job of minimizing damage. It could have really gotten out of hand quickly, but he settled in and gave us six strong innings. Our offense kept chipping away and chipping away before that big sixth inning. Nick Robert came in and shut the door at the end.”
The Hurricanes (23-26, 10-16 ACC) sent 11 batters to the plate to help erase a once three-run deficit.
Catcher Jack Scanlon started the crooked frame with a solo shot off of the batter’s eye.
“I had to kick myself in the butt. He hung and a breaking ball and I didn’t miss it,” Scanlon said. “We continued to scratch and claw. We continue to fight. That’s the MO of this team, even when everyone counts us out.”
One night after delivering the game-winning blast, center fielder Jacoby Long came through with a game-tying double to level the score at four apiece.
Two batters later, second baseman Dorian Gonzalez Jr. drew a bases-loaded pass to push the Hurricanes ahead for the first time since the opening inning.
First baseman Carlos Perez provided a couple of insurance tallies with a two RBI single.
Schlesinger and Robert teamed up to hold the potent Hokies (31-17, 13-13 ACC) in check.
The Saturday starter tossed the first six frames before the freshman closer locked down his first career three-inning save.
In the win, freshman third baseman Daniel Cuvet crushed his 20th jack of the year, moving into a tie for the 10th-most homers by a Hurricane in a single season. Cuvet’s first-inning rocket was his third home run in his last five at-bats.
“Let’s hope he stays hot,” Arteaga said. “He’s the type of guy that can carry and offense when he gets hot. He’s as special as they come.”
Miami will look for its first road sweep Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
“We have to win every game,” Arteaga said. “We’re beyond thinking about winning a series or sweeping a series. We put ourselves in this position and we have to come out and just win tomorrow.”
