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Slowey and Rollins Dominate Keydet Bats, Lead Winthrop to Doubleheader Sweep

ROCK HILL, S.C.- Junior right-handed pitcher Kevin Slowey allowed only one hit while striking out 14 VMI batters in hurling his fourth complete game of the season in Winthrop's 3-0 win in the first contest of a doubleheader. Sophomore right-hander Heath Rollins allowed only four hits in his complete game outing in the second game, as VMI fell 6-1 as Winthrop took the first two contests of a weekend, Big South Conference series at the Winthrop Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.

In game one, Slowey (9-1) allowed VMI (19-21, 5-9 Big South) only two base runners, both in the sixth inning. Freshman second baseman Shane Geisslinger drove a 2-1 pitch into center field after Slowey sat down the first 17 batters he faced. He then issued only his eighth walk of the season, this time to senior shortstop Matt Smith, before striking out sophomore designated hitter Jacoby Fields.

Slowey struck out a season-high 14, improving his league-leading total to 94 in 89.1 innings of work. He has lost only one contest this season, against then-third-ranked Georgia Tech.

VMI senior starter Jimmy Thoms took the loss after throwing an impressive outing of his own, throwing a complete game also, allowing six hits and three runs to the league's top-hitting team. The Eagles (28-13, 12-2 Big South) managed single runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings off of Thoms, dropping his record to 5-4 on the year.

Pacing the Eagle attack in game one was junior third baseman Ben Ehrlich, who went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Daniel Carte had an RBI single and Jacob Dempsey drove home a run with a grounder to third base with the bases loaded, while Chris Carrara had a double, one of only two extra-base hits in the game.

In game two, Rollins (7-4) matched Slowey's complete game performance, giving up only one run on four hits while striking out 10 more Keydets. The only run he allowed came in the fifth, when B.T. Good reached on a walk, moved to third base on a single by Stephen Parsons, then scored as Geisslinger grounded into a double play.

A four-run second inning spoiled VMI starter J.J. Hollenbeck's start, as he fell to 2-4. Only three of the four runs he allowed were earned, as he surrendered nine hits and struck out five. In the second frame, a two-out rally produced four runs, highlighted by RBI singles by Matt Repec and Chris Carrara. An errant throw on a steal attempt at second base brought home the final Eagle run of the inning, as Ehrlich came around from second base to score. Winthrop added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, thanks to a two-run double by Dempsey.

In game two, Matt Smith, Elliott Erbe and Parsons each recorded base knocks, while Sweppenhiser had the Keydets' only extra-base hit of the day, a double. Rollins, Carte, Kyle Roberson, Repec and Ehrlich all had a pair of hits for Winthrop.

The Keydets and Eagles play the final game of the weekend series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Winthrop Ballpark.
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