LEXINGTON, Va. - Heading into the ninth inning with the score tied in both games, the VMI baseball team (8-5) found a way to push across a run and win each contest, taking the first game 4-3 and the second game 7-6 over Lafayette College (0-2) Saturday afternoon at Patchin Field.

RHP Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge)(2-1) won both games out of the bullpen for the Keydets. In the two games combined, DeMara did not allow a hit in his 2.1 innings of work.

"Jeff DeMara did a great job pitching today in pressure situations," VMI baseball head coach Marlin Ikenberry said. "It was great to get two wins in one day."

In game one, the Keydets entered the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3.

After loading the bases with nobody out, Leopard's reliever Drew Moyer got the next two hitters to ground out without allowing the winning run to cross the plate.

But he hit the next batter, right fielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch), and shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) advanced home with the winning score.

Duke Acors (Richmond, Va. / Atlee) started for VMI and allowed three earned runs over seven innings in the no decision.

Game two was also tied up when VMI batted in its half of the ninth inning.

Left fielder Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va. / Prince George) led off the inning with a hit and was moved over to third base one batter later on a single from designated hitter Allan Wimmer (Vienna, Va. / James Madison).

Lafayette's reliever Hank Fitchtner proceeded to throw a wild pitch to the next batter Chad Rice (Gridstone, Pa. / Brownsville), which allowed Fields to score as the winning run.

The Keydets were trailing 6-3 in the seventh inning, but VMI scored three times to tie the game. Two of those runs were driven in on a triple from Fields.

"Jacoby Fields had a great game," Ikenberry said. "He had a great hit in the seventh and a big at-bat to start us off in the ninth."

Overall on the day, Fields went 4-for-8 with three RBI's and three runs scored.

J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) started game two and allowed five earned runs in 7.1 innings of work.

The Keydets have now won five straight games.

The two ballgames were Lafayette's first of the season.

Game three of the three game series between VMI and Lafayette is Sunday at Patchin Field. Game time is 1:00 p.m.

RHP Jimmy Thoms (2-0) will take the hill for the Keydets with RHP Brian Cope (0-0) throwing for the Leopards.


-VMI-