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VMI Baseball Completes Three-Game Sweep of Coppin State with 16-6 Win

LEXINGTON, Va. - Freshman pitcher Alex Di Dio (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) picked up his first collegiate win while sophomore outfielder Thane Smith (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored to lead the VMI baseball team to a 16-6 win over Coppin State in the third and final game of the weekend series at Patchin Field on Sunday afternoon. The Keydets also completed the second game from Saturday that was suspended due to darkness, securing a 5-4 win after completing the final inning and a half. The two wins gave VMI a three-game sweep of the weekend series with the Eagles as the Keydets improved to 5-7 after running their win streak to a season-high four games.

“Overall I thought it was a real team effort this weekend,” VMI coach Marlin Ikenberry said. “Thane Smith did a great job for us. He was a catalyst for us.”

Smith got things going early for VMI in Sunday's single game, knocking an RBI single to left field scoring senior shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) with the game's first run. Thane Smith would later score in the inning as well as the Keydets raced to a 4-0 lead after one.

VMI added eight more runs over the next three innings to take a 12-0 lead after four. Smith continued his hot batting in the second inning belting a two-run double to left field with two outs to score freshman designated hitter Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird) and Matt Smith with VMI's two runs in that frame.

After the Keydets added a single run in the bottom of the third, they erupted for five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take command of the game. Back-to-back singles by senior right fielder Elliott Erbe (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) and junior third baseman Kelly Sweppenhiser (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain) started the inning. Thane Smith followed Sweppenhiser with a sacrifice bunt before sophomore first baseman Robert Crumpler (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk) drew a walk to load the bases. Coppin State then made a pitching change as senior right-hander Bryan Crossley (Williamsport, Pa./Hagerstown Community College) relieved junior starter Matt Bellon (Hagerstown, Md./Liberty University).

Crossley's first batter was junior center fielder B.T. Good (Vienna, Va./James Madison) who reached on an error by the shortstop allowing Erbe to score. Freshman catcher Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) followed with a two-run double down the left field line scoring Sweppenhiser and Crumpler. Freshman second baseman Shane Geisslinger (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) then singled to right field, scoring Goode with an unearned run before Parsons scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Smith to center field.

The Eagles got on the board with four runs in the top of the fifth. A leadoff single by sophomore catcher Brian Vickers (Chilliwack, British Columbia/Seminole College) was followed by a walk to senior first baseman Greg Fleet (Capitol Heights, Md./Suitland High School). Junior designated hitter Josh Koziol (Harve De Grace, Md./Hartford Community College) walked to load the bases, prompting VMI to go to the bullpen. Freshman left hander Trey Barham (Portsmouth, Va./Greenbrier Christian Academy) issued a walk to junior shortstop Paul Conway (Pennsauken, N.J./Hagerstown Community College) bringing home Vickers with Coppin State's first run. Sophomore left fielder Amiel Traynum (Decatur, Ga./Redan High School) then reached on an error by the second baseman that scored Fleet and Koziol. Conway would later score an unearned run on an RBI single to right field by sophomore second baseman Anthony Williams (Baltimore, Md./Slippery Rock University).

VMI maintained control in the late innings, adding three more runs in the seventh before adding a final run in the eighth.

The Eagles added two runs in the top of the ninth for the final margin.

Di Dio worked 4.0 innings and allowed three runs on two hits while fanning five. VMI got steady offensive production as 10 different players recorded a hit with Crumpler and Matt Smith also knocking in three runs apiece.

Bellon took the loss and gave up 10 runs (nine earned) on nine hits in 3.1 innings of work.

In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, VMI got a timely performance from senior right hander Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) who worked the final two innings as VMI won 5-4. After allowing the Eagles to load the bases in the top of the eighth, DeMara calmly retired the last two batters on a pop out to shortstop followed by a strikeout.

After VMI went in order in the bottom of the eighth, DeMara showed his value as the team's top closer, retiring the Eagles in order in the top of the ninth. Senior right-hander Jimmy Thoms (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) started and picked up the win after working 4.0 innings during which he allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and had 2 strikeouts. DeMara wound up with his first save of the season.

Earlier in that game, VMI erased a 1-0 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the third. Coppin State would score once in the top of the fourth to pull within 3-2 but that is as close as they would get the rest of the way. The Keydets added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Erbe delivered the key hit with a two-out, two-run double to center field scoring Thane Smith and Matt Smith for a 5-2 lead.

The Eagles added one run in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull within 5-4 heading to the eighth where DeMara's clutch pitching resulted in Coppin State leaving the bases loaded.

Thane Smith went 2-for-5 and scored twice while Erbe knocked in two runs to pace the Keydets on offense.

Coppin State was led by senior center fielder Nick Wenger (Harrisburg, Pa./Hagerstown Community College) and sophomore center fielder Corey Greene (Westminster, Md./South Carroll High School) who had two hits apiece.

Junior right-hander Bill Auch (Walkersville, Md./Frederick Community College) took the loss after working 5.0 innings and allowing five runs on six hits.

VMI returns to action on Wednesday March 2 when Marshall visits Patchin Field for a single game beginning at 2:00 pm.

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