CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Virginia Tech baseball continued its win streak with a big ACC win over No. 6 Miami (Fla.), 5-3, at Alex Rodriguez Park and Mark Light Field on Friday night.
The Hokies (4-0) beat the Hurricanes (2-2) for the first time since 2016 to start the 2021 season with a 4-0 record.
Peyton Alford (0-0) got the start for the Hokies, his first start this season and his first since April 30, 2019. Matthew Sivering (1-0) came in for relief in the fourth inning and tossed 4.0 innings and struck out six of the 12 he faced to get the win, allowing only one hit.
The Hokies scored five runs on five hits, including home runs from Cade Hunter and TJ Rumfield. Hunter and Rumfield both hit homers against Radford this season.
"We knew we were really prepared," said Hunter. "Our pitchers knew what they had to do and they came in and did their job."
THE GAME
Miami jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Hokies answered in the second inning posting three runs to take the lead. Hunter's bomb in the second pushed the Hokies lead to 3-2. Rumfield added insurance in the top of the third to keep the lead 5-2.
Alford pitched three innings allowing three hits and tossing four strikeouts.
Tech relief pitchers threw six innings against the Hurricanes, tossing seven strikeouts and not allowing a run.
"I think it's a great start to the series," said Rumfield. "We've got to go out and play 18 more innings."
NOTES
- Rumfield and Hunter both hit home runs in Tuesday's game against Radford. The last time two Hokies had a home run in consecutive games was in 2017. Mac Caples and Rahiem Cooper hit home runs against UVA and ETSU on April 15 and April 18.
- The Hokies' win against Miami marks head coach John Szefc's first win against Miami with the Hokies.
- Tech's win today marks the first win against Miami since March 11, 2016.
UP NEXT
Tech will play Miami on Saturday to continue the three-game series with Game 2 of the series starting at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.