Athletics 3/22/2008 12:00:00 AM VMIKeydets.com

Keydets Sweep Doubleheader & Series From High Point

HIGH POINT, N.C.? Jordan Ballard's three-run, ninth-inning home run brought VMI from behind for a 5-3 win in game one, while Chris Henderson and Jason Farley combined for the Keydets' first shutout of the season in a 3-0 game two triumph, as VMI swept a doubleheader from High Point on Saturday at Willard Stadium. The Keydets improve to 8-12 overall and 3-0 in the Big South, while the Panthers fall to 4-17 overall and 0-3 in League play.

In game one, Ballard (Troy, Va./Monticello), who was 0-for-8 in the series entering his ninth-inning at bat, launched his third home run of the season to give the Keydets a 4-3 advantage. Brian Sandridge (Brownsburg, Va./Rockbridge County) then cranked his first home run of the season down the leftfield-line to mark the first back-to-back home runs for VMI since Robert Crumpler and Eddie Van Es did so against Coppin State on April 14, 2007.

In game two, Keydet starter Henderson (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) pitched seven strong innings, shutting out the Panthers while allowing only five hits and walking one, while striking out a career-best ten. Henderson struck out eight batters during the second through fourth innings, as he had already broken his career-best (8) through four innings.

“I was proud of the way our guys played all weekend,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “In game one, I tell our guys that it's not the first or second at bats that matter, but your last at bat, and Jordan Ballard and Brian Sandridge drove balls out of the yard against one of the best pitchers in the Conference. Michael Bowman did a great job to keep us in the game, and I was impressed with the job that Jason Farley and Travis Smink did in relief. To lose Mike Roberts and have to throw in a freshman in conference play, Alex Haitsuka did a great job behind the plate the rest of the day. Then in game two, Chris Henderson set the tone for everybody. He struck out ten and did a phenomenal job against their lineup. Again, Farley did a nice job to finish out the game, we didn't want to use Smink twice in one day quite yet. At the plate, Tanner Biagini had an outstanding day, with five hits in game one and reaching base three more times in game two.”

In the opener, senior Bubba O'Donnell (2-2) took the loss for the Panthers, allowing four runs in 1.2 innings. He worked in relief of starter Sean Murphy, who worked 5.1 innings and scattered seven hits while allowing only one run. Jeremy Berg then came on in relief, working two innings, allowing two hits and a walk while keeping the Keydets scoreless.

Jason Farley (2-2) collected his second win in relief of the season, working a scoreless eighth inning while Travis Smink collected his first save of the season while facing four batters in the bottom of the ninth. Keydet starter Michael Bowman worked the first seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out five while walking one.

The Keydets jumped on top with a single run in the first inning for the second straight game, when Mike Roberts scored on Thane Smith's single. However, the Panthers took the lead in the bottom of the second when Matt Gantner's two-run single into centerfield fell in, and tacked on another in the third as Billy Alvino drove home Jeff Cowan with a double down the leftfield-line.

The Keydets struggled to break through during the middle innings, matching a season-high by stranding 13 men on base, including multiple runners in six of the nine innings. Tanner Biagini became the first Keydet since Mike Roberts against Radford (5/12/07) to collect five base hits in a game, going 5-for-5 with five singles. Sandridge went 3-for-5 with his home run and a pair of singles, while Justin Hess went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.

In game two, the Keydets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as Justin Hess scored on A.J. Yoder's base knock after doubling down the rightfield-line. Tanner Biagini doubled the margin with his single through the left-side of the infield, plating Geisslinger in the fifth.

The Panthers rallied with multiple base-runners three times in the middle innings, as Henderson worked out of jams in the second, fourth and seventh innings, coming out unscathed each time. Farley then allowed only one baserunner over the final two innings to lock down his second save of his freshman campaign.

Offensively, Geisslinger, Yoder and Sandridge each had a pair of hits in the second game, while HPU's Randy Schwartz was the only Panther with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

The Keydets return to action on Tuesday evening, taking on William & Mary at 7 p.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Keydet Quick Notes-
? The doubleheader sweep of a conference team is only the second time that VMI has swept a doubleheader from a Big South opponent since joining the League. VMI swept a twinbill in the opening series of last year's League opener against Charleston Southern, which also marked the last series sweep for the Keydets in the Big South.
? Freshman Jason Farley recorded a win and a save in the same day, the first time a Keydet has done so since Travis Smink turned the trick against Lafayette on Feb. 25, 2006.
? In game one, the Keydets won for the first time when trailing entering the ninth inning since coming back to defeat UNC Asheville 5-4 on April 27, 2007.
? VMI won its Big South opening series for the fourth-straight season.
? The Keydet starting pitchers combined to go 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA, pitching 23 of the weekend's 27 innings, striking out 22 batters while walking only three as the Panthers hit .205 against Trey Barham, Michael Bowman and Chris Henderson.
? In the doubleheader, sophomore third baseman Tanner Biagini reached base in eight of his ten plate appearances.

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