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Keydet Bats Stay Hot in 20-2 Win Over Fairfield

LEXINGTON, Va.- For the second straight day, VMI put up season-high totals in runs and hits as the Keydets rolled to a 20-2 win over Fairfield in non-conference baseball action at Patchin Field on Monday afternoon. With the win, VMI improves to 8-7 on the season, while Fairfield falls to 0-3.

Leading the VMI hit parade was sophomore Robert Crumpler (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk), who went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs, as he scored four runs and drove in seven, the highest RBI total for a Keydet this season. Also chipping in on the offensive side of the ball for VMI was junior Kelly Sweppenhiser (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain), who raised his team-leading batting average to .424 with a 3-for-4 outing, driving in three runs and scoring twice as the Keydets pounded out 22 hits for the second straight contest.

“We've been working hard on hitting the ball to the opposite field, and we did a great job of that today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Both of Crumpler's home runs went the opposite way, Thane (Smith), J.D. (Jaime Davis), and B.T. (Good) all had hits going the opposite way as well. Our guys are coming out and playing hard every day. That's a great sign for our program, and that's exactly what we ask of them.”

Not to be outdone, the Keydet pitchers had an equally impressive day, led by senior starter Jimmy Thoms (Newport News, Va./Denbigh). Thoms was perfect through three innings and allowed the minimum number of batters through five innings. He gave up his first hit in the fifth, when freshman designated hitter Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) singled to left field to break up the no-hitter. However, he was doubled off three pitches later, when junior catcher Tom Arpino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) lined into a double play turned by VMI sophomore Chad Rice (Gridstone, Pa./Brownsville), one of his many outstanding defensive plays at second base.

Thoms lasted six innings, allowing only two hits, striking out two and walking two to improve to a team best 3-0 on the season. Thoms was relieved by freshman Alex Di Dio (Stafford, Va./North Stafford), who allowed a hit and a run in the seventh inning. Sophomore Mike Anton (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) worked a perfect eighth inning, striking out two, while senior Will Paulette (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) allowed one run in the ninth on two hits and a walk while striking out one.

“Jimmy did a great job of setting the tone for us today,” said Ikenberry. “He didn't allow his first hit until the fifth, he was throwing his slider well and locating his fastball on both sides of the plate. Anton came in and did a great job in the eighth, I think he really has turned a corner. When he's on, he can be a very effective pitcher for us, it was good to see him do as well as he did out there today.”

The Keydets got the offense going early, putting up three-spots in the second, third and fourth innings to stake a 9-0 lead after only four innings of play.

In the second inning, sophomore leftfielder Thane Smith (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) led off the inning with an infield single, then stole second base. Smith then came around to score on a double by freshman catcher Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory). Next up came Rice, who blasted a triple down the right field line on an 0-2 count, plating Parsons. Rice would score when senior shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) grounded out to second base, giving the Keydets the early 3-0 lead.

After Thoms continued to mow down the Stags in order, the Keydets got right back to business in the third inning. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Crumpler and Thane Smith were followed by an RBI single by junior centerfielder B.T. Good (Vienna, Va./James Madison).

In the fourth, Crumpler brought home three runs with one swing of the bat, taking the full-count offering deep to center field and out for his first collegiate home run, giving the Keydets a 9-0 lead before Fairfield had recorded their first hit of the ballgame.

VMI got going again in the sixth inning, when Sweppenhiser brought home sophomore designated hitter Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va./Prince George) with a double just inside of the left field line. Sweppenhiser came around to score just two pitches later, when senior rightfielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va./Western Branch) tripled to deep right-center field. A passed ball scored Erbe, before Good's single through the left side of the infield plated Crumpler, who had previously reached after being hit by a pitch, bringing the Keydet lead to 13-0 through six innings of play.

The seventh inning was more of the same for the home team, as Sweppenhiser's double to left field, a sacrifice fly by Erbe to center field, and a two-run home run by Crumpler accounted for the four-run frame. The Keydets tacked on three more in the eighth, thanks to a single by Rice, a double by freshman Jaime Davis (Lynchburg, Va./Amherst), a sacrifice fly by Sweppenhiser and singles by freshman Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird) and Crumpler.

Junior right-hander Sean Keegan (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) was tagged with the loss for Fairfield in his first outing of the season. Keegan gave up six runs on six hits, struck out one batter and walked one batter in 2.1 innings of work. He was relieved by junior Dan Breen (Troy, N.Y./Troy), who worked 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. Freshman Sean Sorise (Port Washington, N.Y./St. Dominic) closed out the game for the Stags, allowing seven runs on seven hits while working two innings.

For the third straight contest and seventh of their last eight outings, the VMI defense did not commit an error while turning in many spectacular plays in the field. Leading the way in that department was second baseman Chad Rice, who helped the Keydets turn all three of their season-high double plays on the day, along with a 2-for-5 day at the plate.

“Chad did a great job at second base today,” said Ikenberry. “That's only the fourth game he's played there this year, and he did a great job both offensively and defensively with some great catches and that big triple early.”

The Keydets have now taken seven in a row since beginning the season 1-7. VMI returns to action on Friday evening, when they travel to Auburn for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday evening is set for 7 p.m. CST at Plainsman Park on the campus of Auburn University.

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