April 22, 2007

Box Score

Miami 9, VT 5

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A combined nine hits and seven runs scored by the middle three batters powered Miami to a 9-5 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies Sunday afternoon at English Field in Atlantic Coast Conference baseball action. With the win, the Hurricanes completed the three-game weekend sweep and improved their record to 25-17 overall, and 11-10 in the ACC. Tech fell to 17-23 and 4-17 in league play.

Miami right-fielder Dennis Raben went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Left fielder Mark Sobolewski went a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk and crossed home plate three times, while clean-up hitter Jemile Weeks collected two hits and a score.

The Hokies were led by first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.), who in a rare lead-off appearance, delivered two hits, two runs and an RBI. Third baseman Bryan Thomas (Wilmington, N.C.) and right fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.) each turned in a pair of hits as well.

Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of three singles and a Miami throwing error. O'Brien got the inning started by hitting the first pitch from Miami left-hander Eric Erickson for a single. Center fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke Va.) bunted Erickson's second offering of the game for an infield single, moving O'Brien to second. The third pitch of the frame resulted in a sacrifice bunt by Thomas that was fielded by Erickson. In an attempt to nail O'Brien at third base, Erickson made a wild throw that allowed O'Brien to score and Parks and Thomas to move to third and second, respectively. An infield single off the bat of shortstop Warren Schaeffer (Vandergrift, Pa.) brought Parks home with the second run. Thomas moved to third on the play and came home as designated hitter Luke Padgett (Lynchburg, Va.) bounced out to second base.

The teams traded runs in the second inning. A two-run single by Miami catcher Richard O'Brien cut the Hokies' lead to 3-2 in the top of the inning. Tech then used a run-scoring double by O'Brien and an RBI-single by Thomas to plate two runs of its own.

The Hurricanes whittled Tech's lead back to one run in the top of the fourth. With two outs and nobody on following a double play, Soboleski singled. Third baseman Gus Menendez drew a walk from Tech starting pitcher Andrew Wells (Alexandria, Va.), who then hit Richard O'Brien with a pitch to load the bases. Shortstop Ryan Jackson then responded with a double to left that just popped free from a diving stab by left fielder Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.).

Raben gave the 'Canes the lead in the top of the fifth. With two outs and a man aboard, he lofted his 10^th home run of the season over the fence in right center for a 6-5 UM advantage.

That lead increased to 9-5 an inning later when the Hurricanes scored three times after loading the bases with nobody out in the seventh. A single by Weeks, followed by a double from Raben, opened the inning. Wells then intentionally walked Soboleski before being replaced by right hander Scott Stoehr (Timberville, Va.). Stoehr got Menendez to ground to third, but Thomas' throw to the plate wasn't in time to get the speedy Weeks as Menendez reached on a fielder's choice. After O'Brien popped out for the first out of the inning, Raben was forced home with the second run when Jackson was hit by a pitch. Blake Tekotte followed with a sacrifice fly to bring Soboleski home.

Freshman southpaw Eric Erickson pitched five innings as the starter for Miami, picking up his fifth win against two losses. Erickson gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. The Hurricanes' bullpen held Tech in check over the final four innings, allowing just two hits and three total base runners.

Wells took the loss, his fourth of the season, to go with a pair of wins. He was touched for nine runs on 12 hits. Brett Fox (North Potomac, Md.) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Virginia Tech is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday night at 7 with a non-conference home game against James Madison.