ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jason Sekany seemed like the perfect fit as Virginia's bullpen closer.
The junior college transfer from California throws hard and attacks hitters. But after two months of relief, Cavaliers coach Dennis Womack believed he was wasting Sekany's talent with short stints.
``We finally woke up and put this guy in the right spot where he should be,'' Womack said following Sekany's six-hit complete game 3-2 win over top-seeded Florida State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament Thursday night.
``Ever since he's been in there he has flourished. It's unfortunate we didn't do it sooner.''
E.J. Anderson, a .209 hitter, doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make a winner of Sekany as Virginia tied a school record for wins by upsetting the Seminoles.
The win by the Cavaliers (38-18) tied the 1985 club for victories and could have clinched an NCAA tournament at-large bid. Virginia has won its last eight games decided by one run and remains in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament.
The Cavaliers will meet Clemson, a 6-1 winner over Georgia Tech, tonight at 7:30.
Virginia is 2-0 in the tournament for the first time since 1982, when the Cavaliers lost to North Carolina in the title game.
The top-seeded Seminoles fell to 44-14 and into the loser's bracket.
``We ain't taking nothing for granted,'' Florida State coach Mike Martin said. ``This is as tough a tournament as we've been in since we've been in this league with the outstanding pitching.''
Sekany (6-2) got the final two outs with a runner on second, including a strikeout of pinch-hitter Jeremy Salazar to end the game for his first route-going performance.
Sekany, who had beaten the Seminoles five days ago, finished with nine strikeouts. The right-hander threw 129 pitches and was clocked as fast as 91 mph in the ninth inning.
``That was impressive,'' Martin said of Sekany. ``That was beautiful.''
Virginia's winning run off hard-luck loser Randy Niles came when Ryan Gilleland walked for only the ninth time this season and stole second. Then, with two outs, Anderson lined a pitch down the right-field line for a double.
``I was 0-for-3, and I didn't want that to affect me,'' Anderson said of his clutch at-bat. ``I wanted to come back and get a hit and help the club, and it happened.''
Niles had pitched five innings of perfect relief before John Galloway singled up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. After allowing a bunt single to Donnie Seward, Niles got catcher Justin Counts on a little roller down the first-base line and the tense game remained tied 2-2.
Niles entered the game after Virginia chased Florida State starter Chuck Howell with two outs in the second.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB