Miami Hurricanes Baseball vs. Virginia Tech Hokies | April 28th, 2019

Miami, FL – Adrian Del Castillo got the big hit of the game while Tyler Keysor (4-0, 4.97 ERA) churned out a quality outing, fanning a career-high seven batters as the Miami Hurricanes blanked the Virginia Tech Hokies 2-0, completing the series sweep Sunday afternoon. The bullpen picked up where Keysor left off in the fifth and continued to keep the Hokies frustrated, extending their scoreless drought to just over 21 innings in back-to-back shutouts.

BALLGAME! @FedermanDaniel shuts the door on @HokiesBaseball. @CanesBaseball wins 2-0 for the weekend sweep! 🧹🧹🧹Adrian Del Castillo's 2-run blast was the difference maker today.

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) April 28, 2019

Keysor was definitely dealing, taking care of VT with near flawless pitching. The Hokies were held to just three hits while he led from the mound. He did run into some trouble in the second after giving up a single to Kerry Carpenter and then beaning Nick Owens. The wild pitch that followed certainly didn’t help things, moving up the runners with one gone. Still, the junior from Windemere, Florida caught Dalton Harum looking and then retired Michael Fernandez to escape the inning. It was smooth sailing from there.

He wasn’t the only one dominating. Fellow righty and junior Nic Enright (1-1, 3.27 ERA) kept Miami hitless through the first three innings. Unfortunately for VT, his one blemish would be huge for the Hurricanes.

Anthony Vilar drew a walk in the fourth to be the first Cane on base and it was just the spark they needed. Del Castillo got a hold of one and sent it deep over the wall in right field to slingshot Miami ahead 2-0. It was his sixth homer of the season.

B4: El Caballo crushed a two-run TANQUE for his sixth homer of the year and Miami leads 2-0 pic.twitter.com/eDaaX58kbb

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) April 28, 2019

Alex Toral singled to the right side and Michael Amditis got aboard thanks to an error by Owens at shortstop but the two-run blast was all UM could muster for the inning.

Mark Mixon came in for Keysor in the fifth and kept the Hokies under control, striking out Owens to send the Hurricanes back to the plate.

UM is currently seeking home-field advantage for the regionals and this weekend’s performance, especially with their top two pitchers injured, puts them on track.

Miami tried to pad their lead in the fifth after Gabe Rivera beat out the throw to first. Willy Escala laid down the squeeze bunt to move up the runner but VT turned them away after both Jordan Lala and Vilar were retired to end the inning

After giving up a walk and a single, Mixon’s day was over as coach Gino DiMare called in JP Gates to keep the Hokies at bay. Carpenter nearly took him yard launching one deep to right field, only for Del Castillo to glove it right at the wall. Owens lined out to Escala to end the threat and continue Virginia Tech’s drought.

Toral almost hit a grand slam in the eighth to bust the game wide open but it just didn’t have the distance over to dead center. Although Daniel Federman labored a bit in the ninth, allowing the tying run to get on base, he shut the door nonetheless preserving the win. He pitched a season-high three innings.

.@FedermanDaniel ties his season high in strikeouts and sets a season high in innings pitched while earning his 7th save of the year.

Way to go, 9️⃣9️⃣! pic.twitter.com/q6FjGhNIEH

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) April 28, 2019

Miami improves to 31-14 (14-10 ACC) while Virginia Tech slips to 24-21 (7-17 ACC). UM has no upcoming midweek game, giving the team much needed rest to prepare for next weekend’s home series against Bethune-Cookman.

Game Notes:

Raymond Gil returned to action after his injury on Tuesday, he went hitless over the weekend but drew 6 walks during that span.

UM Leads overall series 34-8 including 19-2 record at home. Miami has now won 11 straight meetings against Virginia Tech.

This was the first of two-consecutive home weekends for the Hurricanes as the team enters the stretch run of the season.

There were a grand total of 21 strikeouts in today’s game, 12 from Miami’s pitchers.

Gus Bus Award

Adrian Del Castillo was the difference maker, the two-run blast says it all.