Baseball VMIKeydets.com

Birmingham-Southern Takes Game Three From VMI, 15-3

LEXINGTON, Va.- Birmingham-Southern scored in each of the first six innings to take the drama out of the game early, as the Panthers took game three of the weekend Big South Conference series by a 15-3 score over VMI Sunday afternoon.

Birmingham-Southern (19-9, 8-1 Big South) pounded out 18 hits to secure the weekend series sweep, led by Blake Burton and Adam Tucker, who each had four hits and a home run on the day. Earning the win for the Panthers was Josh Britnell (2-2), after allowing two runs on six hits in 5.1 innings, striking out seven while walking only two.

Mike Anton took the loss for VMI, falling to 0-4 on the season after working two-plus innings and allowing five runs. Anton did not get the nod to start the game until just beforehand, when it was determined the scheduled starter, Duke Acors, would not be able to pitch due to a groin injury.

For the Keydets, Elliott Erbe and Thane Smith each had a pair of hits, while Robert Crumpler accounted for all three Keydet runs with a two-run home run in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh that scored Klint Reed.

The Panthers jumped on top in the first with a two-run homer by Burton, his third of the season, then scored their next two runs on bases-loaded walks. A sacrifice fly by Chris Bond in the third inning put BSC up 5-2 after three innings.

The visitors would continue to pour it on from there, as Tucker's home run, his second of the series and league-leading tenth of the season, moved the Panthers up by a 7-2 score.

The hit parade continued over the final five innings, as seven Panther starters and nine players overall recorded hits for the visitors. On the day, Burton and Tucker combined to go 8-for-11 with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and seven runs scored from the fourth and fifth spots in the lineup.

Also recording multiple hits was third baseman Pat Mizerany, who went 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Mac Godwin, who went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. In the ninth inning, backup second baseman Doug Cunningham recorded his first home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line.

Five pitchers worked in the game for VMI, with only one going longer than two innings. Josh Owens came on relieve Anton in the third inning, giving up two runs on two hits in two innings. John Goode also gave up a pair of runs in his only inning of work, while Jeff DeMara was tagged with three runs, only one earned, in three innings. Richard Litwin came on in the ninth to allow three more runs on four hits.

The Panthers saw four pitchers go to the mound on the day, as Ronny Woods relieved Britnell and allowed one run on two hits in 1.2 innings. Blake Martin allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two in the eighth inning, while John King worked the ninth, allowing a walk and hitting a batter before wrapping up the win.

The Keydets return to action Tuesday afternoon, when they host in-state rival William & Mary in a game scheduled for a 3 p.m. start, while Birmingham-Southern will also host a non-conference opponent on Tuesday, as Alabama A&M comes to town for a 6 p.m. start.
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