LEXINGTON, Va.- With VMI down 2-1 in the eighth inning, Chad Rice stole home to tie the game before scoring the winning run in the tenth as the Keydets won their third contest over an in-state rival this season, defeating Norfolk State at Patchin Field on Wednesday afternoon.

With runners on the corners in the eighth, Kelly Sweppenhiser broke to steal second, drawing an errant throw from NSU (8-14) catcher Alfred Profeet that allowed Rice to score. In the tenth, it was Rice's leadoff walk and steal of second base that allowed Klint Reed to move Rice to third base, before Sweppenhiser's third hit of the game gave the Keydets (18-6) the walk-off win with his single past a drawn-in shortstop.

"We did an outstanding job of manufacturing a run in the eighth on the double steal, and Kelly came up with the big hit in the tenth to win it," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "It's good to come out on top on a close game like that, we've had some chances in that situation, and it's great to come through like that. I was very impressed with our pitching staff, Kevin Crum had a bad outing last weekend and came back and had a great tenth inning. It was a team effort today, everybody had a part in it. It was just a great in-state midweek game."

Freshman Kevin Booth allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in his second career start, striking out five in his four innings. The next three Keydet relievers, Corey Bachman, Ian Casher and Kevin Crum, combined to allow two hits and no runs in the final six innings, striking out six more Spartans. Crum improved to 3-0 on the year for his work in the tenth inning.

For NSU on the mound, De'Mece Williams surrendered only two hits while working the first two innings, before he was relieved by Joey Seal. Seal kept the Keydets at bay for the next five innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out four. Mark Young was charged with the tying run in the eighth, while T.J. Starkey (2-2) took the loss, as he retired only one batter while giving up the winning run while working the tenth inning.

NSU got on the board in the first after Starkey doubled down the right-field line to start the game. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Moriba George before scoring on a groundout by Juan Serrano. The Spartans would tack on another in the third, as Serrano's single to centerfield brought home Ranard Miller with an unearned tally.

VMI would get on the board in the fourth, as Jacoby Fields' single through the right-side of the infield scored Sweppenhiser from second base, who had earlier doubled. However, the Keydets would leave the bases loaded in the fourth, in addition to having the first two outs of the inning made at home on fielder's choices.

In the eighth, Rice earned a leadoff walk then moved to second on Reed's sacrifice bunt. Sweppenhiser then skied a ball to shallow centerfield that fell safely and allowed Rice to move to third, setting the stage for the game-tying double steal.

Starkey led NSU at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Serrano brought home both runs while going 1-for-4. Sweppenhiser's 3-for-4 day represented VMI's only multiple hit outing, as he and Fields accounted for the team's only two RBI.

The Keydets return to action Saturday afternoon, when they host Brown in the first game of a three-game set at 2 p.m.