Baseball VMIKeydets.com

Early Surge Propels Baseball To Game Three Win at UNC Asheville, 10-3

ASHEVILLE, N.C.? VMI jumped on UNC Asheville early and never let up in claiming a series-clinching, 10-3 win over UNC Asheville at Greenwood Field. The win gives the Keydets (17-17, 9-3 Big South) their best-ever start in conference play, while the Bulldogs fall to 14-24 overall and 2-7 in league play.

Given the early lead, Michael Bowman (2-3) cruised through the first seven innings, shutting out the Bulldogs on two hits before running into trouble in the eighth. That was when UNCA scored three runs on a pair of home runs, chasing Bowman from the game. The junior right-hander threw 99 pitches in the start, working 7.2 innings while allowing three runs on five hits. He also struck out nine without walking a batter.

“I was proud of the way our offense came out and took control of the game early to give Mike Bowman a lead,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Mike did a great job today, his stuff was electric. It's always good to win the weekend in conference play, and especially on the road.”

Mike Roberts gave VMI a 2-0 advantage with a home run to left field in the top of the first, before a sacrifice fly by Sam Roberts in the second inning brought the margin to 3-0. The floodgates opened in the third, when the Keydets scored five more runs off of UNCA starter Ben Buchanan (0-7), who lasted three innings while giving up eight runs on eight hits.

The big knocks in the third came when Brian Sandridge connected for a two-run home run to left field and Shane Geisslinger plated a pair with a two-out single into center.

Bowman faced the minimum through the first four innings, allowing only a single to Catlin Carter before he was erased on a double play. He surrendered his second hit of the game to lead off the fifth, then retired the next ten batters before Danny Baatz' first home run of the season brought the score to 10-1 in the eighth. Chris Freeman followed three batters later with a two-run shot to center field on the last pitch Bowman threw in the contest. Freshman Jason Farley came on to record the final four outs.

Five Bulldog relievers combined to work the game's final six innings, allowing only two runs on six hits. At one point, the bullpen combined to retire eight batters in a row, sandwiched between Sandridge singles. The sophomore outfielder went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in the game for his second four-hit game this week. Sandridge finished a triple short of a cycle, after doubling in the fourth.

Other offensive stars for VMI included Tanner Biagini, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Mike Roberts, who scored a pair of runs along with his two RBIs.

The Bulldogs, who managed only seven hits, saw Elliott Arrington go 2-for-4 for the team's only multiple-hit game, while Baatz and Freeman drove home all three runs with their round-trippers.

The Keydets return to action on Tuesday evening, playing host to James Madison at 6 p.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Keydet Quick Hits
? The top three hitters in the UNCA lineup were a combined 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in Sunday's game.
? VMI, who entered the week third in the nation by allowing only 2.53 walks per game, walked two batters in 26 innings while striking out 22 this weekend against UNCA
? The weekend win for the Keydets marks the first time in the five-year history between VMI and UNC Asheville that the home team has not won the series.
? Brian Sandridge, who entered the weekend leading the Big South in conference games in batting average, hits, RBIs and total bases, went 7-for-15 (.467) with a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs in the three-game set against UNCA.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Jason Farley

#11 Jason Farley

LHP
6' 3"
Freshman
L/L
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

IF
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

C
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

IF/OF/P
6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Michael Bowman

#17 Michael Bowman

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Jason Farley

#11 Jason Farley

6' 3"
Freshman
L/L
LHP
Shane Geisslinger

#2 Shane Geisslinger

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
IF
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
C
Sam Roberts

#4 Sam Roberts

6' 2"
Freshman
L/R
IF/OF/P
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
OF