Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Despite a late-inning grand slam from sophomore shortstop Tanner Schobel on Saturday, the No. 21 Virginia Tech baseball team was unable to achieve its coveted three-game sweep of No. 2 Miami as the Hokies were handed their first loss of the week, 8-5, at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Attempting to climb back from its 7-1 deficit during the bottom of the seventh inning, Tech rallied behind rookie Christian Martin, who dropped a leadoff pinch-hit single into center field against right-hand reliever Gage Ziehl. After Nick Biddison had singled Martin into scoring position, Gavin Cross drew the five-pitch walk that loaded the bases, bringing Schobel to the dish with three ducks on the pond.
Working a 2-1 count against Ziehl, Schobel lofted a high-arching fly ball to left field that took its time leaving the yard, sliding the Hokies within the 7-5 margin with eight outs left to be claimed. Schobel's swing marked his first collegiate grand slam and his 18th career home run (11th of the season).
Virginia Tech (23-9, 9-7 ACC) entered the ninth inning facing the same 7-5 score before CJ Kayfus provided the dagger for Miami (28-8, 14-4 ACC), hitting a solo home run off Jonah Hurney. The Hokies were denied a hit across two innings of closing work by Andrew Walters, who earned his NCAA leading, 12th save of the season, striking out four.
Biddison paced Tech with two hits, singling to open the game. Jack Hurley provided the big hit that put the Hokies on top, 1-0, during the first inning, shooting an RBI double into the right field corner that scored Cross from first base.
Miami took its final lead during the third inning, receiving a two-out, RBI double from Maxwell Romero, Jr. – the only run-scoring blip on Tech starter Jordan Geber's card. Geber struck out four batters across three innings of work while keeping the Hurricanes to two runs on three hits.
Romero plated Miami's third run during the top of the fifth inning, singling home Ariel Garcia to chase Henry Weycker from the game. Two batters later, Dominic Pitelli knocked a two-RBI double off Kiernan Higgins, who struck out three batters and walked one across two and one-third innings of relief.
Jacob Burke pushed the Hurricanes' lead to 7-1 during the seventh inning, homering off a 1-0 pitch from Higgins.
UP NEXT
No. 21 Virginia Tech will begin midweek action on Tuesday, April 19, when the Hokies welcome VMI to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.Gallery: (4-16-2022) BSB: Miami Game 3