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Hynick Pitches Birmingham-Southern to 4-1 Victory over VMI

LEXINGTON, Va.- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Brandon Hynick allowed a first-inning home run to VMI third baseman Kelly Sweppenhiser but little else, as Birmingham-Southern took game one of a weekend Big South series by a 4-1 margin Friday afternoon at Patchin Field.

Hynick (5-1) went the distance for the third time this year for the Panthers (17-9, 6-1 Big South), scattering nine hits while striking out seven Keydets. The only run he allowed came off the bat of Sweppenhiser, who stroked his eighth round-tripper of the season.

VMI (13-15, 3-4 Big South) dropped their third contest in a row while leaving nine men on base. Senior Jimmy Thoms (3-3) allowed three runs on four hits in the second inning, then settled in to give up only three more hits over the next six innings, finishing the day with eight innings of work, allowing just the three runs on seven hits.

“I was real impressed with Jimmy Thoms today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Unfortunately, we could only put up one run versus (Brandon) Hynick, who we knew coming in was their top guy. I thought we had some valuable base-running mistakes early that cost us outs, and you can't give a pitcher like Hynick any help like we did today.”

After Sweppenhiser gave the Keydets a 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning, the Panthers responded in the top of the second. A one-out single by Blake Burton was followed by a double from Jonathan Sanford, then Mac Godwin doubled to deep right field, bringing both Burton and Sanford to put the Panthers up 2-1. Two pitches later, Billy Froehlich singled to center field, bringing home Godwin to give BSC a 3-1 lead.

The Keydets tried to answer in their half of the second, but Hynick would escape unharmed. After a perfectly-laid down sacrifice bunt by Stephen Parsons put Keydets on second and third with one out, the sophomore hurler would strike out Shane Geisslinger before inducing a fly ball to center field to end the rally.

Base-running mistakes would cost VMI any chance of putting something together in the fourth and fifth innings, as Thane Smith was picked off while B.T. Good was caught stealing, causing the Keydets to come up empty-handed despite stringing together four hits between the two innings.

Hynick retired the next nine hitters that he faced over the next three innings, matching zeroes with Thoms as neither team could manufacture much offense after the first two innings.

Thoms was relieved in the ninth inning by Josh Owens, who would be greeted by a leadoff single by Sanford, then a double by Godwin. Owens then induced a pair of groundouts before Scott Billak delivered with a single to center field, scoring Godwin despite a close play at the plate. A fielders' choice to the shortstop two pitches later set the stage for the Keydets to come to bat in the bottom of the ninth, down by a 4-1 margin.

A strikeout by Jacoby Fields led off the ninth for VMI, however, a single to right field by Robert Crumpler gave the Keydets life, and was followed up by another single, this time through the left side of the infield, by Thane Smith. After a diving catch by Birmingham-Southern shortstop Matt Barber retired Stephen Parsons, John Baber stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the same scenario he faced Wednesday evening at Virginia.

Baber chopped the 0-1 pitch out in front of home plate, and Burton, the Panther catcher, ran out to field it. After a perfect throw to retire Baber, Panther first baseman Adam Tucker failed to keep his foot on the first base bag, allowing Baber to beat the throw and load the bases with two outs. However, Hynick regrouped and struck out Good in three pitches, giving BSC their 12th win in their last 15 contests.

Pacing the VMI offensive attack was Thane Smith, who went 3-for-4 on the day, all singles. Sweppenhiser went 2-for-3 with a home run and was the only other Keydet to record multiple hits.

For the Panthers, consistency was the name of the game, as their fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth hitters all had two hits on the day. Burton, Sanford, Godwin and Froehlich each went 2-for-4, wigh Godwin recording a pair of runs scored and RBIs as well.

The Keydets and Panthers get back to action Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., weather permitting, in the second game of the weekend Big South series, at Patchin Field.

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