LEXINGTON, Va. ? Freshman Jacob Morley's bases-loaded single up the middle scored Justin Topping to give VMI an 11-inning, 4-3 win over Old Dominion on Tuesday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium. The win is VMI's (1-3) first extra-innings win since April 19, 2008, a 16-inning affair at Liberty, while ODU falls to 2-3.
Keydet senior Travis Smink (1-1) picked up the win by working the final 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit while striking out six. The loss went to ODU reliever Gerard Hall, who walked three and allowed two hits in one inning.
“We were very fortunate to win this game today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “I can't speak highly enough of the effort of our guys to come back late to win this game. David Lottman had a big play in the ninth, getting a good dirt-ball read and drawing an errant throw from their catcher to get to third base before scoring the tying run in the ninth. Travis Smink came in and wanted the ball and he put up zeroes for us for four innings. I can't say enough about Jacob Morley either. He came back after misplaying a ball in the outfield and had a couple of huge hits for us, including the game-winner. Overall, I'm proud of how we competed, but we need to do a better job of executing on the little things.”
Morley paced the Keydet offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Topping was 2-for-4 on the afternoon. The Monarchs were led by Hall, who went 2-for-4 while starting the game at shortstop.
The Monarchs took an early lead off of Keydet starter Michael Devine, picking up a pair of runs in the second inning. Following a leadoff double by Donnie Corsner, the Monarchs scored on an infield hit by Brett Harris and a squeeze bunt by Austin Wright to move ahead 2-0. A pair of two-out walks loaded the bases for the Monarchs, but Devine escaped further damage by inducing a groundout to end the frame.
Monarch starer Ben Tomchick rolled through the opening innings, allowing his first base runner with two outs in the third inning, when Morley drew a five-pitch walk. Tomchick later allowed an A.J. Yoder single to open the fourth inning, but rebounded to set down the next three hitters in order.
The Keydets mounted their first rally in the fifth. Morley plated Alex Haitsuka with a well-struck ball into right field, where Scott came up empty on a diving attempt. The ball got past the right fielder, allowing Haitsuka to score from second and Morley to pull into third with his first career extra-base hit.
VMI knotted the game at two in the seventh, as Haitsuka plated Brian Sandridge, who had reached on a leadoff double. The visitors answered just a half-inning later off of reliever Alan Watts, with Hall scoring on Joe Velleggia's base knock into center field.
The Keydets answered in the ninth off of Wright, who came on from second base to pitch to open the eighth. In the ninth, Jordan Ballard led off with a scorching single over the shortstop's head, then gave way to pinch-runner David Lottman. In the next at bat, Wright delivered a wild pitch that skipped away from Monarch catcher Edgar Hernandez. Lottman broke for second base, however, a wild throw from Hernandez went into center field, allowing Lottman to reach third base with no outs. Two batters later, Lottman came home on a double play hit into by Topping, sending the game into extra innings.
Smink continued to roll through the extra innings, in all allowing only two base runners in his 3.2 innings. The Keydets, meanwhile, threatened in the tenth before a bases-loaded double play ended the rally.
The Keydets strung together another rally in the 11th. Topping reached base on a one-out single, before back-to-back walks moved him to third base. Morley then delivered his third hit of the game, a shot back up the middle, that hit off of Jake McAloose's glove and into shallow right-center field, giving VMI the win.
VMI returns to action on Wednesday afternoon, traveling to the state capital to take on Richmond at 2:30 p.m. at Pitt Field.
