Hokies win first ACC series against sixth-ranked ‘CanesHokies win first ACC series against sixth-ranked ‘Canes
Tim Brodgon, Miami (Fla.) Athletics
Baseball

Hokies win first ACC series against sixth-ranked ‘Canes

Opens in a new window Box Score (PDF)


CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Virginia Tech baseball fought a tremendous battle on Sunday afternoon, winning 9-6 over No. 6 Miami (Fla.) and won its first series at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in school history.

The Hokies (5-1, 2-1 ACC) beat the Hurricanes (3-3, 1-2) to open league play with a series win for the first time since 2018 (vs. Pitt). The win Sunday was the first time in program history Tech beat Miami twice in Miami for its first series to its name.
 
Anthony Simonelli (1-0) got the start for the Hokies, his second start of the season. He went 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and two earned runs allowed, before Jaison Heard (1-0) went to work and was lights out with five strikeouts in relief, picking up the win. Shane Connolly (0-0) came in for the save and got his third of the season, facing seven batters in 2.0 innings and surrendering just two hits.

The Hokies scored nine runs on 11 hits, including home runs from Fritz Genther and Gavin Cross. Tech took the lead for the first time in the game during the seventh inning. 

THE GAME

Miami jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Hokies were able to put a run on the board in the second and third inning to tie the game. Genther's home run was the second of his career.

Tech was constantly battling back to tie the game until the seventh inning. Kevin Madden and Tanner Schobel both had RBIs to take the lead in the seventh frame. Cross' two-run home run in the eighth inning was his second of the season, and proved to be insurance runs.

Tech pitchers threw strong innings against the Hurricanes, tossing nine strikeouts and allowing four earned runs on the day.

NOTES

- Tech's win on Sunday marked the first time in program history that the team won a series in Miami. 

- The last time the Hokies won a series against Miami was on April 25, 2012. 

- Schobel recorded a career-high four RBIs against Miami on Sunday.    

UP NEXT

Tech will play a three-game series against North Carolina (6-1) starting on Friday, March 5 with first pitch at 4 p.m. ET. in Blacksburg at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.