ASHEVILLE, N.C.- A sacrifice fly by UNC Asheville second baseman Kyle Smith brought home centerfielder Kevin Mattison with the game-winning run, as UNCA completed a weekend sweep of VMI in Big South baseball action Sunday afternoon at McCormack Field. With the win, UNCA improves to 19-26 overall and 8-10 in the Big South. VMI falls to 25-19 and 6-12 in League play.

VMI starter J.J. Hollenbeck (1-4) earned the tough-luck loss, despite going eight-plus innings and allowing only four earned runs. He also struck out a season-high seven batters while allowing nine hits in his longest outing of the season.

Ben Buchanan (3-4) earned the win for the Bulldogs, as he came on to work the final 3.1 innings, allowing no VMI hits while facing only one batter over the minimum. Buchanan relieved UNCA starter Michael Bogaert, who was lifted in the sixth inning after allowing five runs on five hits.

"I thought that we deserved to win the game today, J.J. pitched his tail off for us, and we did everything right until the last three innings," said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. "We gave up too many bases, and we didn't play defense at gametime, and that's what cost us. I was really proud of how we came out and competed today, we came out and fought hard from the start."


The game was a back-and-forth battle in the middle innings, with three lead changes in the fifth and sixth innings alone. After UNCA claimed a 1-0 lead in the third inning off of a solo home run by Rob Vernon, the Keydets came back to claim a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Bogaert issued walks to Chad Rice and Michael Roberts and saw each man come around to score, thanks to RBI from B.T. Good and A.J. Yoder.

The Bulldogs answered in their half of the fifth, as a two-run double from Elliott Arrington gave UNCA a 3-2 lead. But VMI again answered with a three-run rally that chased Bogaert, as a two-run base knock from Rice gave the Keydets a 4-3 lead, while a throwing error by third baseman Steve Burnich allowed Rice to score and make the advantage 5-3 in favor of the Keydets.

UNCA cut into the lead with an unearned run in the sixth before tying the game with an unearned tally in the eighth. Hollenbeck was called on to start the ninth, but was lifted after allowing a leadoff single to Mattison. VMI reliever Ian Casher saw Vernon sacrifice Mattison to second base, before an intentional walk was issued to Arrington. Keydet leftfielder Jacoby Fields was then brought in with runners at first and second base with one out, and proceeded to walk Johnny Martinez on a full count before Smith's sharply hit flyout to left field plated Mattison with the game-winner.

UNCA was led at the plate by Vernon, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. VMI saw only Klint Reed post multiple hits in the game, as he went 2-for-3.

The Keydets return home next weekend, as they host Coastal Carolina in a three-game set, beginning on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Patchin Field.