Keydets Win Fifth Straight with 4-1 Win at Charleston Southern

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Keydets Win Fifth Straight with 4-1 Win at Charleston Southern

CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Senior hurler Jimmy Thoms threw seven shutout innings and sophomore first baseman Robert Crumpler hit his eighth home run of the season to spur the VMI baseball team to their fifth straight win, a 4-1 decision over Charleston Southern in the opening contest of a three-game Big South series at Buccaneer Field Friday afternoon. With the win, VMI improves to 18-17 overall and 4-6 in the Big South, while Charleston Southern falls to 19-18 and 7-9 in the league.

Thoms (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) improved to 5-3 on the season by scattering six hits over his seven innings of work, striking out four batters while walking none. Senior reliever Josh Owens (Sandston, Va./Benedictine) allowed the Bucs their only run while pitching the eighth inning, an unearned tally after an error by the shortstop allowed Jordan Haar to score from third. Senior closer Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) worked the ninth, escaping unharmed after allowing base hits to the first two batters. However, the Keydets turned their second double play of the day and DeMara picked up his fourth save of the season while also tying Ian Ostlund (1998-2000) for the most career saves in school history with 11.

“Jimmy, Josh and Jeff all did a great job of commanding the strike zone today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Jimmy did a great job to pitch seven strong innings for us. We didn't play as well as we could've, but our guys hung in there and we scratched out some runs for our pitchers. The bottom of our lineup came through for us today; we had a great approach against the best left-handed pitcher in the conference, we had some great at bats and were fortunate to score four runs off of him.”

On the offensive side, Crumpler (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk) continued his tear, recording a hit in his eighth straight game, this one a two-run homer in the sixth to give the Keydets a 4-0 lead. An inning previously, senior right fielder Elliott Erbe (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) scored the Keydets' first run of the game before the visitors had recorded a hit, as he was walked, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice then scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later, junior center fielder B.T. Good (Vienna, Va./James Madison) singled home Crumpler.

The Keydets were unable to get anything off of CSU starter Josh Evans before the fifth inning, as he was perfect through four complete. He ended up with the loss, allowing all four VMI runs on five hits, striking out four but walking four also to fall to 6-2 on the year. He was relieved by Payton Tweddale, who allowed the Keydets only four hits and no runs in the final three innings.

Three Keydets had a pair of hits, as Good, freshman designated hitter Klint Reed (Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird) and freshman catcher Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) all did so. Junior third baseman Kelly Sweppenhiser joined senior shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) and Crumpler with a single hit in the contest.

For the Bucs, Haar, Brad Woods and Keith Stewart each had two hits, while Sole accounted for the only RBI.

The Keydets and Buccaneers return to action Saturday, when they tangle in a doubleheader at Buccaneer Field with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m.


GAME NOTES
* With Friday's win, VMI is over .500 overall (18-17) for the first time since March 26, when they stood 13-12. They now also stand 6-5 in games when facing a left-handed starting pitcher, 13-6 in games that they hit a home run in, 2-2 in Big South road games and 12-15 in single games. The Keydets have now hit at least one home run in seven of their last eight games.

* The Keydets are currently on a five-game win streak, their second longest of the season, trailing only their seven-game streak from Feb. 23-Mar. 7.

* With his fifth win of the season, Jimmy Thoms tied teammate Josh Owens for sixth on the VMI single-season wins list, as Owens won five games in both 2001 and 2004.

* Over the past five games, Robert Crumpler is hitting .500 with 10 RBI, six runs scored, three home runs and a double.
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