RICHMOND, Va.? VCU grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third inning that they never relinquished, as the Rams defeated VMI Wednesday evening by an 8-6 count at The Diamond. With the win, VCU improves to 26-21, while the Keydets fall to 26-22.
Ram starter Tim St. Clair (1-1) earned the win in his second start of the season, allowing three runs, two earned, in 5.2 innings on six hits. Richmond native Michael Bowman (3-2) took the loss for VMI, as he allowed three runs, two earned in four innings, striking out three in his sixth start of the year.
“I thought we played a good game tonight,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “We made a couple of mistakes on the mound that cost us, and we didn't a cutoff man that cost us another one. But it was great to see how well we competed, and it's always good to see such great crowd support for us whenever we come out to Richmond.”
The biggest of those mistakes made on the mound came when after the Keydets had cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning on a fielding error at second base on a stolen base attempt that scored B.T. Good. In the bottom of that frame, VMI reliever Kevin Crum allowed a two-run homer to St. Clair, advancing the lead to 7-4. The Rams then tacked on an unearned tally later in the seventh, while a two-run blast from Kelly Sweppenhiser in the ninth inning made the final 8-6.
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Trai Harris hit his first roundtripper of the season, a blast to leftfield. The Keydets answered with an unearned run in the third inning, as A.J. Yoder dropped down a well-placed bunt, moved to second base on a throwing error on the bunt, then scored on a fielding error on third baseman Chris Jackson.
The hosts moved ahead 3-1 in their half of the third, as Scott Sizemore brought home Joe Meador with a single through the left-side of the infield before coming around to score when St. Clair reached on a throwing error on VMI shortstop Chad Rice.
Each team responded with a pair of runs in the middle innings, as VCU claimed a 5-1 lead in the fifth, as St. Clair brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly and Harris singled home Miranda. VMI then cut the lead to 5-3 when Michael Roberts plated Jacoby Fields with a single, Roberts scored on a wild pitch.
Sweppenhiser's 2-for-5 outing included home run number six on the season, while Fields and Yoder each went 2-for-3 as well. VCU was led by a 3-for-5 contest from Sergio Miranda, while St. Clair brought home three RBI from his cleanup spot.
The Keydets return to action Friday afternoon, when they host North Carolina A&T in the first of a three game set at 4 p.m. at Patchin Field.
