May 6, 2009

Florida State Pounds Florida International 15-5, Pushes Win Streak To 14 Games
Florida State (35-12) scored early and often Wednesday night in cruising to a 15-5 victory over Florida International (30-19) on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles tallied 11 runs in the first three innings as every FSU starter registered a hit as it was the first meeting between the two schools since 1991. The victory pushed the Seminoles' win streak to a nation-best 14 games.

Tommy Oravetz followed Tuesday night's three-hit performance against Jacksonville with another three hits Wednesday night to lead the Seminole offense which finished with 16 hits. The Tallahassee, Fla., native registered hits in his first three at-bats posting an RBI single in the first, a solo shot in the second and a double off the fence in right in the fourth. Oravetz finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. He has now hit three home runs in his last two games and his five home runs in 2009 equals his career total from his first three seasons combined.

Six Seminoles tallied two RBI, while four others finished with two hits. Tyler Holt went 2-for-4 with two RBI extending his streak of reaching base to 37 straight games, while he has now reached base in all one game this year.

Maryland Baseball Tops Towson, 10-7
A.J. Casario went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs and Jensen Pupa drove in a pair of runs on three doubles to lead the University of Maryland baseball team to a 10-7 victory against Towson Wednesday evening at Shipley Field.

With the win, the Terrapins (24-26) won their 10th straight non-conference game and remained unbeaten against in-state teams this season, sweeping the season series from the Tigers (25-22) in the process.

Scott Swinson got the start on the mound for the Terps, his second midweek start of the year, and the Tigers notched a pair of runs off Maryland's ace in the top of the first inning. Third baseman Steve Yarsinsky drove in a run with a double and Austin Harclerode added a sacrifice fly. 

Duke Sweeps Presbyterian 3-2, 5-3
Duke used seven pitchers who gave up just four earned runs over 18 innings to sweep a double header against Presbyterian, winning the opener 3-2 and the nightcap 5-3, Wednesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.

Freshman left-hander Eric Pfisterer (3-2) turned in a career-long 6.0-inning performance to earn the win for Duke (31-18, 12-12 ACC) in game one, and relievers Will Currier and Dennis O'Grady both notched saves to lock up the wins. Pfisterer scattered four hits and two runs in the start while striking out four with one walk.

Currier, meanwhile, got the final nine outs to preserve the 3-2 win in the opener, while O’Grady got the final two outs in game two to collect his third save of the season. Along with Kyle Butler, Tim Sherlock and sophomore Ryan Knott (3-1), who went 4.1 innings out of the bullpen and got the win in game two, Duke’s bullpen gave up just two earned runs in 10.0 innings to help the Blue Devils reach 30 wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1998. 

Hokies win weather-shortened game over Davidson
The Virginia Tech baseball team used four home runs – including the first of catcher Chris Kay’s career – to defeat host Davidson College 11-5 on Wednesday night in non-conference action at Wilson Field.

First pitch of the contest was delayed by nearly an hour due to lightning, and the game ended up being called after eight innings due to more of the same.

The Hokies banged out 14 hits on their way to their 28th win of the season against 20 losses. The Wildcats fell to 18-26. 

Eight UNC Wilmington Pitchers Stop NC State, 5-1
Grayson Evans and Cody Stanley had two RBIs apiece and Ben Thielsen scored two runs Wednesday as UNC Wilmington used eight pitchers to shut down NC State 5-1 at Brooks Field. The Seahawks improved to 25-17 with the victory. The loss dropped the Wolfpack to 22-27.

Both teams used a predetermined pitching split, and the two squads wound up using a total of 16 pitches. Justin Bradley (3-3), the second of eight UNCW pitchers, earned the victory after allowing one hit in two shutout innings of work. Vance Williams (0-1), the second pitcher for the Pack, took the loss. He went two innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Williams struck out three and walked two.

NC State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Kyle Wilson led off with a walk and moved to second on a Devon Cartwright sacrifice. After stealing third base, Wilson scored when Drew Poulk grounded out, giving the Pack the early advantage.