Griffin Stieg had another stellar outing for the Hokies to help them to Sunday's win at Miami. (Virginia Tech athletics)

Virginia Tech baseball has thrice stared down the barrel of an ACC sweep this season. Each time, Griffin Stieg has prevented it. 

First, it was shutdown performances against No. 3 Georgia Tech and No. 10 Virginia. On Sunday in Coral Gables, it was six innings of two-run baseball to keep the Hokies (15-15, 6-9 ACC) from being swept by Miami (24-8, 6-6), winning 6-3. 

The right-hander’s numbers weren’t especially gaudy — he allowed seven hits and notched three strikeouts — but he walked just one batter, hit none and stranded six baserunners.

The Hurricanes may not have quite the pedigree of the Cavaliers or Yellow Jackets, but it hasn’t been easy for any team to win at Alex Rodriguez Field this season. They’re 18-5 at home, losing only to No. 21 Florida, No. 22 Boston College and, now, Tech. 

Stieg had help from an errorless defense, particularly its infield, which combined for 16 putouts. It was an unconventional infield look for the Hokies this season, with usual designated hitter Hudson Lutterman at first base, Ethan Gibson at shortstop in place of Pete Daniel, and true freshman Willie Hurt at third base for a second straight game.

The Hokies’ outfield excelled after Stieg’s exit — he ultimately picked up the win — with Preston Crowl on the mound. The junior earned his fourth save of the season, but would’ve blown it if not for a heroic play from Sam Grube in right field to end the eighth inning. 

With two runners in scoring position, an out and the Hokies up 4-2, Max Galvin lined a ball into the right-center gap, where the Mount St. Mary’s transfer sprawled out to make the catch and save two runs. Derek Williams — who began the play at second but was flying home, positive that the ball dropped — was out when Grube sprang up and launched a throw to second base.

Miami threatened in the ninth as well, with Vance Sheahan and Dylan Dubovik striking a leadoff single and double, respectively. Fabio Peralta drove in the former with a sacrifice fly, but Jake Ogden grounded out and Daniel Cuvet struck out to end the game.

Earlier in the game, Cuvet hit an RBI double and Galvin added an RBI single off Stieg to account for Miami’s other two runs.

The four Tech needed were secured by the end of the third, when Ethan Ball and Grube launched home runs on consecutive pitches by Miami starter AJ Ciscar to put the visitors ahead 4-0. 

In the second inning, Hurt, Sam Gates and Ethan Gibson smacked straight singles to score a pair of runs. Gibson’s dropped into the outfield, plating the other two with help from a Dubovik fielding error in left field 

Ciscar took the loss despite striking out eight Hokies batters and allowing no walks or runs after the third inning. In fact, he retired the final 11 Tech batters he saw. Reliever Jake Dorn picked up where he left off, outing six straight to make 17 at-bats without a baserunner for the Hokies.

The streak ended with Anderson French’s hit by pitch in the eighth, as did Dorn’s day. Relievers Ryan Bilka and Jack Durso followed him, who allowed Tech a pair of insurance runs via Hudson Lutterman’s RBI groundout and a Ball RBI single.

Next, the Hokies return to Blacksburg for a Tuesday game against Liberty at 6 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra. The Flames (22-9) are on a seven-game win streak that includes a win over NC State last Tuesday.

Box Score: Virginia Tech 6, Miami 3