Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Miami scored eight runs in the first three innings and never trailed in defeating Virginia Tech 9-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at English Field. With the win, Miami improved to 23-8 overall and 11-3 in the ACC, while the Hokies fell to 22-11 overall and 7-7 in league action.
Miami got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. After Hokie starter Mathew Price struck out the first two Hurricane batters, he walked first baseman Scott Lawson and then surrendered a home run to left field by Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal.
The Hurricanes added to the lead the next inning, as right fielder Nathan Melendres led off with a single to left field and stole second base on the next pitch. Melendres then scored on a single to right field by center fielder Zeke DeVoss.
Lawson led off the top of the third inning with a ground-rule double to left-center before Grandal’s second homer of the day put the Hurricanes up 5-0. Third baseman Harold Martinez then singled to right field and moved to second one out later on a wild pitch by Price. Following a Melendres single, DeVoss broke the game open with a home run to right field to give Miami an 8-0 lead, chasing Price.
Miami added to the lead in the top of the fifth inning as left fielder Chris Pelaez hit a home run – Miami’s fourth of the game – to deep right-center off of Tech reliever Jake Joyce.
Tech got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. After left fielder Buddy Sosnoskie walked with two outs, third baseman Tony Balisteri doubled to left-center to score Sosnoskie. Balisteri then scored himself when Martinez made an error on a ball hit to third by Tech catcher Steve Domecus.
Neither team scored in the final four innings. Miami starter Eric Erickson improved to 3-1 on the season, allowing Tech just two runs in his seven innings of work. He struck out five batters and only allowed four hits. Travis Miller and Daniel Miranda combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief for the Hurricanes.
Price, now 4-2 on the season, took the loss for the Hokies. He allowed eight runs in 2.2 innings of work. He gave up nine hits, including three home runs.
First baseman Ronnie Shaban led the Hokies with two hits in four at-bats. Domecus, shortstop Tim Smalling, designated hitter Anthony Sosnoskie, Balisteri and pinch hitter Andrew Rash had the other hits for the Hokies. Grandal, Martinez and Melendres had two hits each for the Hurricanes, with Grandal driving in four runs on a pair of two-run homers.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series at noon on Sunday.