LEXINGTON, Va. - Five Keydet pitchers combined to hold the University of Richmond to just one run on four hits as VMI baseball (15-7) defeated the Spiders 3-1 Wednesday afternoon at Patchin Field. The win was the first for VMI over Richmond in 15 years.

The Keydets fell behind 1-0 in the second inning after Richmond (11-5) right fielder A.J. Board singled, advanced to second on an outfield miscue, moved over the third on a pass ball and scored on a fielder's choice. The Spiders lone run was unearned.

VMI took over the game in its half of the sixth inning when they rallied to score two runs to go on top 2-1.

Right fielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch) connected on a one out double and was driven home on another double from centerfielder Brandon Massenburg (Prince George, Va. / Prince George). After moving to third base on a passed ball, Massenburg scored on a fielder's choice to give the Keydets a 2-1 lead.

VMI increased its lead to 3-1 in the seventh when shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) doubled and eventually came around to score on second baseman B.T. Good's (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) sacrifice fly.

The Spiders threatened in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with just one out, but reliever Mike Anton (Clarksville, Md. / River Hill) worked out of the jam with a strike out and a ground out to preserve the VMI lead.

The Keydets open conference play this weekend, and as a result elected to conserve the workload of their starting pitchers and used multiple arms in the win.

"The pitching staff did an outstanding job retiring (Richmond's) hitters," VMI head baseball coach Marlin Ikenberry said. "Mike Anton did a great job pitching out of trouble in the fifth and (Jeff) DeMara pitched great to get his first save of the year. The staff did a great job completing the game on a staff day."

Freshman Corey Bachman (Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) (1-0) took the win in relief while junior Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) (1) recorded the save.

Starter J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) allowed just a hit and an unearned run in three innings.

Richmond starter Matt McLoughlin (1-1) was the hard luck loser, allowing only two earned runs and one walk over seven innings.

The last time the Keydets beat Richmond in baseball was March 16, 1989 when they took a 5-3 decision in Richmond, Va.

VMI faces its first Big South opponent on Friday as they travel to Birmingham, Ala. to open a three-game series with Birmingham-Southern College beginning Friday. The first pitched is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST.

-VMI-