Baseball VMIKeydets.com

Baseball Needs 16 Innings to Dispatch Liberty, 6-5

LYNCHBURG, Va.? A.J. Yoder's single up the middle plated Brian Sandridge with the winning run in the 16th inning as VMI defeated Liberty 6-5 on Saturday evening in Big South Conference action at Worthington Stadium.

With the game knotted at four from the ninth inning on, the Keydets (20-18, 10-4 Big South) grabbed a 5-4 advantage in the 15th, when Sam Roberts scored on Mike Roberts' single through the right-side of the infield.

The Flames (18-19, 7-4 Big South) knotted the game in the home 15th, when Keydet reliever Travis Smink, working his eighth inning of relief, was charged with his lone run of the game. Garrett Young scored on Aaron Grijalva's double down the left field-line to send the game to the 16th.

Sandridge led off the 16th with a base knock and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Jordan Ballard. Yoder delivered his second hit of the game, his first since the second inning, on a 2-1 pitch from Flame reliever Andrew Wilson (1-2). The Keydets threatened for more in the 16th, loading the bases before Steven Evans escaped by inducing a groundout by Sam Roberts.

Chris Duty (4-0), who recorded the final two outs of the 15th in relief of Smink, worked a 1-2-3 16th inning to collect the win in his first outing since the Keydets' last 16-inning game, coming less than two weeks ago when VMI defeated Radford 3-2.

“What an unbelievable night tonight for us,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry after the Keydets scored their first win in Lynchburg since 1995. “A.J. (Yoder) came through with the big knock when we had to have it, and I just can't speak highly enough of the job our guys did to stay into it for 16 innings again.”

The contest was the longest in Liberty's program history, and once again tied VMI's school record for the longest game.

A three-run second inning gave the Flames an early lead off of Keydet starter Trey Barham. LU added another run in fourth, when David Giammaresi, who homered to lead off the second, scored after a lead off double.

The Keydets, who had been shut out for the first 15 innings of the series, broke loose in the seventh, when Mike Roberts connected for a three-run home run to cut the margin to 4-3 off of LU starter Dustin Umberger.

“Umberger looked great tonight for them, and I felt like they pretty much had the game in hand with the way he was pitching,” said Ikenberry. “I can't speak highly enough of Mike Roberts' at bat when he hit the three-run home run.”

VMI rallied in the ninth, when Sandridge's single into left field with the bases loaded, plating Thane Smith. Sam Roberts then tried to score on the play, and was thrown out on an accurate throw to the plate from Doug Bream in left field.

Barham and Umberger each worked seven innings in their starts, with Barham allowing four runs on seven hits, while Umberger allowed three runs on nine hits. Smink threw 7.1 innings in relief, allowing one run on five hits, striking out five.

“I think that Trey Barham pitched well, even though he didn't have his best stuff,” said Ikenberry. Travis Smink pitching 7.1 innings was phenomenal. He just kept going and going, and said that he felt good the whole way. Then Chris Duty came in late in the game and had a great outing after not being on the mound for a couple of weeks.”

Mike Roberts drove home four of VMI's six runs with two swings of the bat, going 2-for-8. Sam Roberts and Sandridge each went 3-for-8 for the Keydets. Each of the three tied VMI's school record for single-game at bats, set by Sandridge two weeks ago.

The Keydets and Flames play the rubber game of the weekend set on Sunday at Noon. The contest will be broadcast on Lexington's WREL 1450 AM and online at www.VMIKeydets.com.
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Chris Duty

#22 Chris Duty

RHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
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
Travis Smink

#35 Travis Smink

LHP
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/L
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

IF
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ballard

#26 Jordan Ballard

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Chris Duty

#22 Chris Duty

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
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
Travis Smink

#35 Travis Smink

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/L
LHP
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF