VMI Baseball Squanders Early Lead in 6-2 Loss at Birmingham-Southern

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VMI Baseball Squanders Early Lead in 6-2 Loss at Birmingham-Southern

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The VMI baseball team took a 2-0 second inning lead on Birmingham-Southern on Saturday afternoon, but was unable to hold on in a 6-2 loss at Scrushy-Striplin Field.

The Panthers improved to 14-5 overall, 2-0 in the Big South, and go for the series sweep tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST. VMI dropped to 15-9 and 0-2 in the conference.

VMI took its lead with a run in a two-hit first inning behind an RBI single from sophomore DH Kelly Sweppenhiser (Herndon, Pa./ Line Mountain) and another run in a four-hit second inning. The lead was almost advance to three in the second frame, but freshman third baseman Matt Rice (Gridstone, Pa./ Brownsville) was thrown out at the plate after a single from shortstop junior Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va./ Great Bridge) had already scored sophomore catcher Matt Maleski (Virginia Beach, Va./ First Colonial).

With the Keydets leading 2-1 in the fourth, BSC loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Cline then drove a 2-2 pitch from VMI junior starter Richard Litwin (Virginia Beach, Va./ Ocean Lakes) to the wall in left center, clearing the bases. Matt Smith's relay throw to third base skipped into the dugout, allowing Cline to trot home.

Robertson then greeted sophomore reliever J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va./ James Madison)with a blast over the left field wall on an 0-2 pitch. It was his seventh homer of the season and 46th of his career, passing Brock Lowell's total of 45.

Litwin fell to 1-1, giving up five runs on seven hits with a strikeout and five walks in three innings. Hollenbeck recorded five strikeouts in just four innings on the mound.

BSC cut the lead in half when Cline singled with one out in the third, stole second and third and scored on an infield hit by Robertson.

The Panthers swiped six bags on the afternoon, including three by Bogue, who is now 10-for-10 on the season.

Smith and Sweppenhiser had two hits each for the Keydets.
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