Baseball Knocks Off Virginia Tech, 8-7

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Baseball Knocks Off Virginia Tech, 8-7

LEXINGTON, Va.? Shane Geisslinger drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lead VMI past Virginia Tech, 8-7, on Wednesday evening at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Geisslinger's second walk-off RBI in three games gave the Keydets (23-22) their first win over the Hokies (18-27) in Lexington since April 25, 1969.

The Keydets held a 7-4 advantage entering the ninth, and had yet to lose a game this season when leading or tied entering the ninth. The streak nearly came to an end, as the Hokies managed three runs on three singles, two errors, a pair of sacrifice flies and a hit batsman.

The Keydets rallied in the ninth to spoil the comeback. Hokie hurler Rhett Ballard (2-6) issued a one-out walk to Brian Sandridge, before an error at third base by Matt Blow, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, extended the inning. With two outs, Justin Topping beat Ballard to first base on a chopper hit to the right-side of the infield, leaving the bases loaded for Geisslinger, who walked on a 3-1 pitch.

“It wasn't an easy one, but our kids deserved to win that game,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “I thought that we had a lot of energy and a lot of intensity tonight. We had some guys give us some great at bats, and it put a lot of pressure on them.”

The rally made a winner of Chris Duty (5-0), who allowed two hits and one run. Duty came on in relief of Matt Edwards, who was charged with two runs while working one-plus innings after facing two batters in the ninth.

Keydet starter Trey Barham had been in line for the win, allowing only four runs, three earned, through seven innings.

“It's an outstanding win for us, especially going into exams,” said Ikenberry after his second coaching victory over the Hokies. “Trey did a great job of coming back on short rest and giving us a strong outing. Matt Edwards did a nice job of coming in, and we didn't want to extend him in that situation. Chris Duty just didn't have his good stuff on two days rest, and we really didn't want to use him, but we did.”

Tech starter David Cross was lifted after four innings after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits. He was relieved by Sean McDermott, who surrendered only one run through 2.1 innings, before Ballard came on to throw the final 2.1 innings, being charged with a pair of unearned tallies.

A 4-for-4 night from Matt Hacker led the Hokie offense, while a two-run, fourth-inning home run by Michael Seaborn accounted for the visitor's only extra-base hit of the game.

Mike Roberts' solo home run tied the game in the first inning, before the Keydets took a 3-1 lead in the second on a two-run double by Sam Roberts. Following Seaborn's blast in the fourth, the Keydets responded quickly with a two-run single from Tanner Biagini in the bottom-half, before an infield single by Topping stretched the Keydet advantage to 6-3 in the fifth.

Each team plated a run in the eighth, setting the scene for the game's ninth-inning fireworks.

Sam Roberts, A.J. Yoder and Geisslinger each went 2-for-4 for VMI, while Topping went 2-for-5.

VMI's last win over Virginia Tech came on April 27, 2005 in Blacksburg. The Keydets had lost their last 20 meetings against the Hokies in Lexington before Wednesday's win.

The Keydets break for exams over the next eight days, and return to action on Friday, May 9, hosting the first of a three-game set against Maryland-Eastern Shore at 6 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Chris Duty

#22 Chris Duty

RHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

RHP/DH
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
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
Justin Topping

#5 Justin Topping

C/OF
5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

IF
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Trey Barham

#8 Trey Barham

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Chris Duty

#22 Chris Duty

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP/DH
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
Justin Topping

#5 Justin Topping

5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
C/OF
A.J. Yoder

#10 A.J. Yoder

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
IF