VIRGINIA TECH MOUNTS COMEBACK IN RUBBER MATCH AGAINST NO. 6 MIAMI

Wyatt Krueger

March 1, 2021

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The comeback trail was set ablaze Sunday afternoon. Virginia Tech stormed back in both the seventh and eighth inning against No. 6 Miami, taking the rubber match game of the weekend series, 9-6.

The Hokies (5-1, 2-1 ACC) faced two-run deficits in the first, fifth and sixth innings before scoring five runs in the seventh and eighth to leave the Hurricanes (3-3, 1-2 ACC) with their first series win in Coral Gables in program history.

Sunday’s victory added to an impressive list of wins this season that includes two top-ten victories, a 22-2 domination against Radford and a win to open the season against a top-80 draft prospect in pitcher Luke Albright from Kent State.

Virginia Tech took its first lead of the game when freshman Tanner Schobel drove in Kevin Madden on an RBI groundout to second base to make the score 7-6 in the top of the seventh inning.

The Hokies added to their lead in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a two-run home run by Gavin Cross, which served as the metaphorical ‘nail in the coffin’ for the series.

Senior Jaison Heard earned himself the win in relief after pitching both the sixth and seventh inning, giving up two hits and striking out five.

Closer Shane Connolly earned his third save of the season on Sunday and has quietly emerged as one of Coach Szefc’s most reliable bullpen arms. This season, Connolly has pitched 6 2/3 innings in relief without allowing a run and has thrown four strikeouts while only giving up five hits.

Starting pitcher Anthony Simonelli fared well against the Hurricanes, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings, with only two of them being scored as earned runs.

Offensively, the Hokies were led by Madden and Schobel, who both tallied two hits and batted in six total runs. However, it was a complete team effort with five different starters recording two hits off of Miami pitchers.

Virginia Tech has the week off to prepare for a three-game series against another ACC opponent in North Carolina, which starts on Friday.