No. 22 Miami opens ACC series with win over Tech

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Virginia Tech's Ian Seymour struck out a career-high 11 Hurricanes in a seven-inning plus effort, but it was a bases-loaded, two-RBI single by Gabe Rivera in the eighth that gave No. 22 Miami a 4-3 victory over the Hokies in the first game of a three-game ACC baseball series at Mark Light Field Friday night.
 
With the performance, Seymour became just the fourth Tech pitcher to strike out 11 or more batters in an ACC regular-season game, while he also became the fifth to strike out at least 10 batters twice in an ACC regular-season contest.
 
Tech (24-19, 7-15 ACC) opened the night's scoring in the second, as three straight singles plated the game's first run. Dalton Harum drove home Kevin Madden with a single and Jack Owens' sacrifice fly plated Tanner Thomas and the Hokies led 2-0.
 
Miami (29-14, 12-10 ACC) knotted the game with a pair of runs in the third – an RBI double for Willy Escala, who then crossed the plate on an Adrian Del Castillo sacrifice fly.
 
Seymour, who struck out two in the first and second innings, retired 10 straight and 15 of the next 16 batters to give Tech an opportunity to pick up only its third ever win over the Hurricanes in Miami.
 
Ironically, it was Miami-product Michael Fernandez who came through for the Hokies in the sixth, as he registered a two-out, pinch-hit single that scored Tanner Thomas and put Tech up 3-2. Tech then loaded the bases on back-to-back walks, but Miami ended the threat with a strikeout.
 
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes then ruined Fernandez' heroics and Seymour's career night as they loaded the bases with just one out in the eighth. Rivera then sent a grounder back through the middle, which rolled just past a diving Nick Owens and plated the game-tying and go-winning runs.
 
Miami closer Greg Veliz, the Hurricanes' sixth pitcher of the night, finished off the game with a perfect ninth, as Miami hurlers ended the night by retiring 10 straight Hokies.
 
Up Next
The three-game ACC series will continue with Miami on Saturday evening in Coral Gables, Florida. First pitch at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field is set for 7 p.m.