CHARLESTON, S.C. ? A five-run explosion in the ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader gave VMI a 7-2 victory and sealed the Keydets' first series victory on the road against a conference opponent in nearly two years. However, a brilliant pitching outing by Charleston Southern's Ian Holmen kept VMI from getting the sweep, as the Buccaneers took game two 2-0 in Big South Conference action Saturday afternoon.

The doubleheader split gives VMI a 19-18 record overall, while moving them to 5-7 in the Big South. Charleston Southern now stands at 20-19 overall and 8-10 in league play.

“It's always tough in the Big South to win two games on the road, so we're very excited about taking this series,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Our guys were focused all weekend. Our pitching staff did a great job of keeping their guys off-balance; we only gave up two earned runs all weekend. Our offensive guys did a good job of putting pressure on their defense, and there in the ninth inning of the first game, really put some pressure on them to make pitches. But today was really two great ballgames, the pitchers on both sides did a great job all day. We're really excited to get the first road series win of the year and our first since joining the Big South.”

In game one, the pitchers stole the show early, as neither team recorded a hit until senior right fielder Elliott Erbe (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) singled in the top of the fourth inning. The Keydets got on the scoreboard first the following inning, when junior center fielder B.T. Good (Vienna, Va./James Madison) reached on a bunt single, stole second base, then scored on an RBI single by freshman second baseman Shane Geisslinger (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill).

VMI added another run in similar small-ball fashion in the sixth, when junior third baseman Kelly Sweppeniser (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain) was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a walk by Erbe, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore first baseman Robert Crumpler and scored by an RBI single from pinch hitter Thane Smith (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial).

However, the Bucs answered in the seventh, as VMI starter J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va./James Madison) issued a pair of bases-loaded walks to tie the contest. Neither team could make any noise in the eighth, sending the contest to the ninth inning knotted at two.

Back-to-back singles by Thane Smith and Good led off the inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt attempt that allowed freshman catcher Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) to reach after an error on the pitcher loaded the bases. Geisslinger again came through with an RBI single, putting VMI up 3-2.

After Good scored on a wild pitch, sophomore designated hitter Jacoby Fields (Prince George, Va./Prince George) stepped up and delivered another RBI single, this time to centerfield. A fielder's choice by Sweppenhiser and a sacrifice fly by Crumpler accounted for the final two Keydet runs, giving a five-run cushion to VMI closer Jeff DeMara (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge), who didn't need it, allowing the Bucs only one hit in the ninth.

Senior reliever Josh Owens (Sandston, Va./Benedictine) earned the win, improving to 2-2 on the season while earning his 12th career win, tying him for fourth place in school history with teammate Duke Acors and Todd Tilley.

Acors (Richmond, Va./Atlee) would get his chance to earn his 13th career win in game two, but was matched against Holmen, who delivered one of his best outings of the season, no-hitting VMI through six and two-thirds, finishing with eight innings pitched, six strikeouts, three hits and three walks. Acors pitched his first complete game of the season, allowing only two runs, one earned, in eight innings, striking three but walking six batters. Nino Fasulo recorded the final two outs for CSU, earning his fifth save of the season.

The Bucs scratched across single runs in the third and fourth innings, thanks to an RBI single by Billy Dalton following an error on the pitcher, and a bizarre play on a ball that went over the fence. In the fourth inning, following a single up the middle by Graham Maiden, Keith Stewart stepped up and sent a ball beyond the left-field fence. VMI leftfielder Thane Smith jumped up against the wall to attempt to catch the ball over the wall, and nearly did before his glove made contact with a piece of equipment just over the wall. However, as Smith fell back into the field of play, no one could tell if he had made the catch, causing Maiden to retreat to first base as a precaution in case the catch had been made. However, at that time, Stewart passed Maiden on the basepath, immediately causing Stewart to be out in a play that would be scored as an RBI single by Stewart that scored Maiden, while Stewart was called out.

That was all the help the Buc pitchers needed, as VMI recorded only three base knocks off of the CSU threesome.

“Duke pitched his tail off in the second game, but we just couldn't get anything going offensively,” said Ikenberry. “He pitched well for us, but their guy really did a nice job against our bats today.”

No Keydet recorded hits in both of the day's contests, as Thane Smith, Good and Geisslinger each had two hits in the first game of the day. Geisslinger had a pair of RBI's, while Good scored twice. In the second game, Matt Smith, Sweppenhiser and Crumpler accounted for the VMI offense, each recording singles off of Holmen.

The Keydets return to action Wednesday night, when they travel to Williamsburg to take on William & Mary in their second match-up of the season. A week and a half ago, the Keydets defeated the Tribe 8-6 in Lexington. Wednesday night's contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., and can be heard on WREL 1450 AM with the play-by-play provided by Wade Branner.


GAME NOTES
* With Saturday's split, VMI's six-game win streak was snapped, their second longest of the season, trailing only a seven-game run nearly two months ago.

* The Keydets' road series win over Charleston Southern is their first such win over a conference opponent since taking all three contests at Appalachian State on May 3-4, 2003, VMI's last season in the Southern Conference.

* VMI played their last scheduled doubleheader of the season on Saturday and now stands 5-0 in the first games of a twinbill and 7-3 overall in doubleheader games.

* VMI has now won four of the last five games junior J.J. Hollenbeck has started on the mound.

* The Keydets are 15-1 when scoring six or more runs and 4-17 when scoring five runs or less.

* VMI is now 5-12 on the road this season, 5-7 in Big South games, and 3-3 in Big South road games.

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