LEXINGTON, Va.? Junior outfielder Thane Smith went 4-for-5 with a pair of second-inning RBI to give VMI the lead for good as the Keydets dedicated Gray-Minor Stadium in style on Tuesday evening with a 5-3 victory over VCU in non-conference baseball action. The win marks the first in the series by VMI since 1985, and improves the Keydets' record to 18-7 while the Rams fall to 15-10.
Before the game, Senator Elmon T. Gray, VMI Class of 1946 G. Gilmer Minor III, VMI Class of 1963 and William A. Paulette, VMI Class of 1969 were on hand for dedication ceremonies for both Gray-Minor Stadium, VMI's new baseball facility, and Paulette Hall, the locker room complex that houses all Patchin Field operations for baseball, lacrosse and soccer. With the win, the Keydets are 10-1 in their new facility this season, and also improve to 4-1 against in-state opponents this year.
Earning the win was sophomore Chris Henderson (2-1), who won his second straight mid-week decision against a CAA opponent by allowing only two runs in 5.2 innings of work, striking out seven while scattering six hits. Taking the loss was VCU freshman Phillip Deane (2-1), who allowed two runs each in the second and third innings on nine hits. Sophomore Kevin Crum recorded his 14th save of the season despite allowing a run on two hits while working the ninth inning.
“I thought that our kids were very focused tonight despite all of the festivities that were going,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “We had some great at bats early in the game, and Thane really came up with that big two-run hit in the second inning. I was very proud of the way that Jordan Ballard performed tonight as well in his first collegiate start, going 2-for-4. I can't speak highly enough of our pitching staff, Chris Henderson pitched extremely well tonight and got to his pitch limit in the sixth inning. Then Ian Casher and Trey Barham did a nice job of coming in and putting up zeroes in the middle innings. All in all, it was another great effort, and what a great environment we had. The pre-game festivities came out well, and it was nice to have VCU here, we've been very close with their program over the years, and we knew we'd have a great game here tonight. It was great to see Sen. Gray, Gil Minor and Bill Paulette all get out there before the game. What an outstanding evening for VMI baseball.”
VCU scratched across a first-inning run as Sergio Miranda (3-for-4) led off the frame with the first of three doubles on the evening before scoring two batters later on an RBI groundout from Jared Bolden. A two-bagger by Jacoby Fields led off the VMI second inning, followed by a base knock from Ballard to put runners on the corners. Three batters later, Smith stroked a single up the middle to plate both Fields and Ballard, giving the Keydets a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish.
Once again, VMI led off the third inning with a double, this time by A.J. Yoder, followed quickly by a single from Michael Roberts. The Keydets tacked on two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Fields and an RBI single from Ballard, however left the bases loaded for the second time in three innings with a 4-1 lead.
The Rams answered in the fourth inning with a two-out rally, as Chris Jackson reached on a single to centerfield following an outstanding diving catch at the wall by VMI centerfielder Justin Hess. Barrett Ripley then ripped a double to centerfield to plate Jackson, cutting the Keydet margin to 4-2 while bringing in Howard Deemer to replace Deane on the mound. Deemer worked perfect fourth and fifth innings before seeing his offense mount a rally in the top of the sixth.
A fielding error put Bolden aboard to lead off the sixth, followed two batters later by a walk issued to Ripley that would chase Henderson from the game in favor of Casher. After hitting Kwan Evans to load the bases, Casher got Nathan Furry to strikeout, stranding three runners in the 4-2 game.
The hosts tacked on an unearned tally in the sixth, when Smith reached on a bunt single before scoring on the second wild pitch of the inning by Deemer. The Keydets then countered with Trey Barham on the mound, who allowed only one baserunner on a fielding error over the next two innings, striking out three to hand the ball off to Crum, the nation's leader in saves. The Rams rallied off of the righthander with a single run on Miranda's third double of the evening, a shot into leftfield that plated pinch-hitter Matthew Leskiw.
The Keydets take on their third CAA opponent in eight days on Wednesday evening, as they travel to Williamsburg to take on William & Mary in a 7 p.m. start.
