April 15, 2007

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Virginia Tech threatened in the late innings, but top-ranked Florida State held on to completed a three-game sweep of the Hokies with an 8-5 victory at Dick Howser Stadium on Sunday. The Seminoles banged out 16 hits in improving their season record to 35-4 and their ACC mark to 13-2. Tech is 17-20 following the loss, including a 4-14 conference record.

Tech starting pitcher Adam Redd (Dumfries, Va.) gave himself a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) reached on a double down the right field line with one out in the inning and scored as Redd grounded out to second base.

Florida State answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. A lead-off double by shortstop Mark Hallberg got the Seminoles started. Hallberg took third on a bunt-single by catcher Buster Posey and came home on a throwing error committed on the same play. Posey took second on the error, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield single by left fielder Dennis Guinn.

A two-out RBI-single by FSU first baseman Brandon Reichert extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning. The Seminoles then picked up three unearned runs in the sixth, combining two hits and a pair of Tech errors with a walk and a hit batsman to make the score 6-1. The first run of the inning scored when Guinn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A Tech throwing error provided the second run, while the final run of the inning came in on a double by designated hitter Ohmed Danesh.

The Hokies battled back in the top of the eighth inning against FSU reliever Travis Burge. Schaeffer opened the inning with a double and first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua) followed with a walk. A double by third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) knocked in Schaeffer and Thomas scored on a groundout by left fielder Luke Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.). Tech right fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) plated Thomas with a two-out single, cutting the lead to 6-4.

FSU responded in the bottom of the inning, this time with two runs, one of which scored on a single by center fielder Mark Gildea. The Seminoles once again benefited from a walk and a hit batsman.

Tech added a run in the ninth on Schaeffer's third double and fourth hit of the game. He was the only Hokie with more than one hit in the contest. Gildea and Reichert both finished with three hits for the Seminoles who had six players with two or more hits.

Redd (2-3) took the loss, but gave the Hokies another solid effort over 5.2 innings. The senior right hander gave up six runs, only three of which were earned. FSU starter Ryan Strauss pitched seven innings, allowing one run on four hits. He is now 8-0 on the season.

Tech is slated to return to action on Wednesday with a home game against William & Mary at 5.