LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI (22-21, 3-11 BSC) starting pitcher J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) struck out eight batters, scattered seven hits and was touched for just one run as he went the distance in the Keydets' 5-1 Big South Conference victory over Winthrop University (23-16, 11-3 BSC) Saturday afternoon at Patchin Field.
Hollenbeck did not allow a hit until the fifth inning when Eagles centerfielder Tommy Lentz's pop up was misplayed and dropped in for a hit.
Winthrop's lone run off Hollenbeck came in the seventh inning when left fielder Jacob Dempsey doubled in Lentz who had reached on a single.
"J.J. Hollenbeck did a great job locating his pitches," VMI head baseball coach
Marlin Ikenberry said. "He kept their hitters off balance. He threw as strong in the beginning of the game as he did at the end. It was great to see him get the complete game."
Hollenbeck's complete game was the first one of season for the Keydets.
VMI got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when right fielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch) singled in third baseman Chad Rice (Grindstone, Pa. / Brownsville). Two batters later left fielder Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va. / Prince George) drove in shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) with a fielder's choice to give the Keydets a 2-0 edge.
VMI then opened the game up to a 5-0 lead in the fourth when Smith tripled home designated hitter
Jonathan Hadra (Richmond, Va. / Atlee), who singled, and first baseman Jon Wade (Marietta, Ga. / Harrison), who doubled. Smith would eventually score on a past ball.
Both Smith and Hadra went 2-for-4 in the game.
Eagles shortstop Matt Repec extended his hitting streak to 19 games with an infield single.
VMI's win evens the series between the Keydets and Eagles at 1-1.
The teams will wrap up their three-game match-up Sunday afternoon at Patchin Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
RHP Duke Acors (Richmond, Va. / Atlee) gets the call for VMI and will face Winthrop's RHP Mike Honce.
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