Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990 TAG: 9005090228
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION:
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bargas, a third baseman who leads Florida State in hitting and runs batted in, sat for seven innings against the Hokies because of a virus. When he got off the bench, the Hokies suddenly fell ill.
Bargas' two-run, line-drive homer in the top of the eighth gave Florida State a one-run lead en route to a 6-4 victory before a sellout crowd of about 5,000 at Salem Municipal Field.
Tech, which entered the game leading the Metro Conference race by percentage points over the Seminoles, saw its record fall to 9-4 in the league and 33-15 overall.
Florida State, ranked eighth in the nation by Baseball America magazine, won the opener of a three-game series and is 12-4 in the Metro and 43-12 overall.
Tech rallied in the bottom of the eighth but was stifled by Seminoles reliever Ricky Kimball, a former member of FSU's starting rotation making his sixth relief appearance of the year.
Seldom-used reliever John Nedeau walked pinch hitter Fred Hatfield to start the eighth, and after Josh Haggas bunted Hatfield to second, Nedeau walked Steve Render.
Kimball, who saved both of FSU's victories over then-No. 1 Miami last weekend, struck out Clint Creed on three pitches and Shaun Thomas on four to end the threat.
Tech had taken a 4-3 lead in the seventh on the Seminoles' third error of the game, committed by defensive replacement Chris Brock in right field. Thomas walked to lead off the inning. David Dallas faked a bunt, pulled back and lined a hit-and-run single to left-center field.
Len Wentz then lofted a high fly deep to the right-field corner. Brock got under the ball as he was nearing the line, but dropped it into foul territory. Thomas scored easily, but Dallas, who was tagging up on the play, was thrown out at third.
The Hokies, playing FSU at home for the first time ever, held a 3-0 lead after three innings as Wentz drove in two runs. But the Seminoles came back with single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to tie the score.
Tech and Florida State resume the three-game series today at 3 p.m. at English Field on the Virginia Tech campus.
The two teams wind up the series with another single game Thursday at English Field beginning at 1 p.m.
This series could have great impact on the seedings for the Metro Conference tournament, which is being held this year in Hattiesburg, Miss., from May 16-20.
Florida State is the defending Metro champion, and has been ranked among the top teams in the country for the past several years.
by CNB