ASHEVILLE, N.C.- Sophomore Alan DeRatt allowed eight hits but no runs in working a career-best 7.2 innings, as he combined with sophomore Jordan Dorsett to shutout VMI by a 9-0 score on Friday afternoon in the opener of a Big South Conference series at McCormack Field. The win brings the two teams even in the League standings at 6-10, while VMI falls to 25-17 and UNCA improves to 17-26.
The Keydets managed baserunners in all but two innings, as they stranded 11 men on base in the shutout, the third of the season for VMI. DeRatt, however, got the key outs when he needed them to improve his record to 4-3, while VMI starter Travis Smink (7-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in three-plus innings.
“This is the first time of the year I wasn't happy with the way we competed,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “DeRatt threw well tonight, but I didn't think he threw well enough to put up eight zeroes on us. We had our chances to score early, and couldn't come through with the big hit when we needed it. Klint did a great job of getting on base for us tonight, but we couldn't bring him home. Tomorrow we'll come out with a little bit more focus.”
At the plate, UNCA was led by a 3-for-4 performance from catcher John Whited, as he scored a team-high three runs. Each Bulldog in the starting lineup notched hits in the contest, with four notching multiple-hit outings.
Pacing the Keydet offense was Klint Reed, who collected four hits in four trips to the plate, however was left in scoring position each of those four times. Notching the only extra-base hit of the evening for VMI was Jacoby Fields', whose sixth-inning double was followed by a groundout by Shane Geisslinger, marking the third consecutive time the sophomore second baseman was retired with two outs and a pair of runners on base.
UNCA took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, as an RBI double from Kyle Smith was followed by a run-scoring single by Matt Henson. An inning later, a solo home run from Rob Vernon made the score 3-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The hosts tacked on a pair more runs in the fourth, as a leadoff single by Whited was followed by a walk to Smith that ended Smink's night. After the first batter Michael Bowman faced executed a sacrifice bunt, an RBI single from Steve Burnich chased Bowman in favor of Corey Bachman.
Bachman struck out the first batter he faced for the second out of the inning, and thought he would get out of the jam by picking off Burnich at second base, however, a balk was issued and allowed the second run of the inning to score, before Bachman induced a groundout to first base to end the frame.
Bachman would silence the bats in the coming innings, as he retired each of the next 11 batters he faced. In his longest career outing, Bachman ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth, as he allowed four runs to score before he could record the final out.
The Keydets and Bulldogs play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon, as first pitch from McCormack Field is set for 1 p.m.
