Ball's homer part of Virginia Tech's four-run ninth inning against 'CanesBall's homer part of Virginia Tech's four-run ninth inning against 'Canes
Miami Athletics
Baseball

Ball's homer part of Virginia Tech's four-run ninth inning against 'Canes

Nick Locurto swings three hits as Hokies nearly pull off comeback at Miami

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Scoring four runs during the ninth inning on Saturday night, the Virginia Tech baseball team nearly pulled off a defining comeback win at Miami, despite coming up short, 8-6, at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

Nick Locurto went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot for Virginia Tech (14-15, 5-9 ACC), delivering a pair of run-scoring hits – the second of which extended the game during the ninth inning with the Hokies down to their final out, bidding to erase their six-run deficit. Ethan Ball tightened the game further with his ensuing three-run homer that chased the parking garage in right center field (estimated 420 feet) before the Hurricanes stopped the rally with Ryan Bilka’s strikeout of Sam Grube.

Back-to-back doubles by Pete Daniel and Sam Gates during the second inning put Virginia Tech on top first for the second straight game in the series. However, the Hokies were held to one hit – a double during the third inning by Henry Cooke – through the next four innings as Miami (24-7, 6-5 ACC) used its five-run fourth inning to pad its 7-1 advantage.

Brett Renfrow opened with two scoreless innings on the mound before the Hurricanes scratched the game-tying run across during the bottom of the third inning. Renfrow escaped the first inning unscathed after Jake Ogden’s leadoff triple, but was less fortunate when Daniel Cuvet tripled during the bottom of the third inning, scoring on Alex Sosa’s ensuing sacrifice fly to left field.

Miami burned Renfrow for five two-out runs during the bottom of the fourth inning, uniting for six hits.

Ogden’s two-RBI triple – the third allowed by Renfrow (the first three triples allowed by the right-hander spanning his 38 career starts) – put the Hurricanes in front, 4-1, before Cuvet followed with the two-run homer that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Virginia Tech was held to a run on five hits by right-handed starter Lazaro Collera, who recorded five strikeouts.

Seven of Miami’s 12 hits landed for extra bases with Ogden accounting for a double, two triples and three RBIs.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech will round out its weekend series at Miami on Sunday, April 5. First pitch between the Hokies and the Hurricanes at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

REMAINING SERIES PROBABLE STARTERS

• Sunday (April 5):  Griffin Stieg (1-1, 6.10 ERA) vs. AJ Ciscar (2-2, 4.00 ERA)