LEXINGTON, Va. ? Jacke Healey's two-run home run in the ninth inning gave Youngstown State a come-from-behind, 7-6 win over VMI in non-conference action at Gray-Minor Stadium on Friday afternoon.
YSU (1-3) rallied with two runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to overcome what was a commanding 5-1 lead for VMI (1-5). The deciding blow came with two outs in the ninth, when Sam Roberts (0-1) delivered a 1-2 pitch that Healey drilled beyond the left-field fence to put the visitors up a run.
“We were one pitch away from winning the ballgame,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “But that's how the game goes. They put up some runs late off our bullpen, and we didn't extend the lead off their bullpen. I thought John Phelps pitched well in his second start back. They're a good club, and that's why we play teams like this, to test us in every facet of the game.”
YSU reliever Trent Wood (1-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing a run while working the eighth inning. Anthony Munoz came on to work a perfect ninth to record his first save of the year.
VMI starter John Phelps worked 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on only four hits. The redshirt junior surrendered only one run through the first five innings, before the Penguins rallied in the sixth. A leadoff double by Healey and a hit batsman preceded a two-run single from Eric Hymel, bringing the score to 5-3.
The visitors knotted the game at five in the eighth. A leadoff double by Anthony Porter was followed two batters later by a single up the middle off of Roberts, who had just moved to the mound from right field. In the following at bat, VMI catcher Alex Haitsuka attempted a pickoff at first base, however, his throw sailed down the right-field line. The error, which allowed one runner to score and another to move to third base, was followed by a groundout that tied the score at five.
The Keydets rallied to grab a lead in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Michael Devine struck out, but just beat the throw to first base on a wild pitch, as Jacob Morley crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
Roberts remained in the game for the ninth, as he hit the first batter he faced. The sophomore bounced back to retire the next two batters, before Healey's blast moved the visitors on top.
The Keydets were led offensively by Jordan Ballard, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, while Graham Sullivan went 1-for-3 with an RBI double as well. Morley delivered VMI's other extra-base hit on the day, a pinch-hit double down the left-field line in the eighth.
Healey's 3-for-4 outing included two doubles and a home run, while Hymel went 1-for-4 with three RBI for the visitors. YSU starter Aaron Swenson worked seven innings, allowing five runs, four earned, while striking out six.
Game two of the series, originally scheduled for 1 p.m., will now be played at 10 a.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium, due to the threat of inclement weather.
