April 21, 2007

Box Score

Miami 4, VT 3

 

BLACKSBURG, Va - Despite out-hitting Miami and stranding nine Hurricane base runners, the Virginia Tech baseball team lost a tight decision for the second straight day in falling to the ACC foe by a score of 4-3 Saturday at English Field.

The Hokies (17-22, 4-16 ACC) had Miami reliever Danny Gil in a bind with two on and two outs in the ninth, but right fielder Dennis Raben took over on the mound for the final out to record his second save. Starting pitcher Enrique Garcia earned the win to improve to 4-2 after tossing seven innings and allowing two runs with seven strikeouts. Left fielder Mark Sobolewski paced the Miami (24-17, 10-10 ACC) offensive charge with two hits, including a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Tech's attack was led by third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) and right fielder Steve Bumbry (Cockeysville, Md.), who combined for five hits in the contest. Thomas went 3-for-3 and knocked in the third run for the Hokies, while Bumbry delivered two hits, including a triple. Tech starter Greg Fryman (Gibsonia, Pa.) picked up the loss to fall to 2-7 on the season despite allowing just two earned runs while fanning five batters. The Tech pitching staff as a whole issued eight walks and three wild pitches.

The Hokies produced the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth. Shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) led off with a walk before stealing second. A Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) ground out advanced Schaeffer to third, and a Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Hurricanes answered right back in the top of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Sobolewski led off with a solo home run, before third baseman Gus Menendez singled. He advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt, and then scored on a single by catcher Richard O'Brien.

Tech tied it back up at two in the bottom of the frame. Bumbry raced to third on a triple down the right-field line, and was immediately brought home on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by second baseman Matt Hacker (Richmond, Va.).

Miami reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh to make it 3-2. Leadoff batter Gus Menendez struck out, but the third strike got away due to a wild pitch and he was able to beat the throw to first. He moved to second when O'Brien drew a walk, and advanced to third on shortstop Ryan Jackson's third sacrifice bunt of the day. Menendez touched home on center fielder Blake Tekotte's subsequent ground out to second base.

The Hurricanes added an insurance run in the top of the eighth to extend their lead to 4-2. Designated hitter Jemile Weeks was the man who eventually crossed the plate, but it was an adventurous trip around the bases after he reached first via a walk by Tech reliever Brett Fox (North Potomac, Md.). Weeks advanced to second when Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.) came in and threw a wild pitch to Sobolewski, who followed with a grounder to Schaeffer at shortstop. Yonder Alonso, who had reached prior on a single and moved to third on the wild pitch, got caught in a rundown between third and home before eventually getting tagged out. Weeks moved to third in the process, and then came home on Ballard's second wild pitch of the inning.

Thomas stroked an RBI-single in the Hokies' half of the eighth to cut the deficit to 4-3, but it would not be enough. Thomas' third hit of the game brought home Schaeffer, who had walked and moved to second on an O'Brien walk.

Tech and Miami are scheduled to play the third and final game of the series on Sunday at noon.