CLINTON, S.C.- VMI pounded out a season-best 21 hits in scoring a conference-opening win over Presbyterian, 14-4, on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Big South action at the PC Baseball Complex.
Each VMI (7-8, 1-0 Big South) hitter had a knock in the contest, as PC (2-11, 0-4) was touched up for a six-run second inning and a five-run fifth. Senior A.J. Yoder paced VMI with a 5-for-7 outing, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games. Junior Jordan Ballard was 2-for-2 with four walks in six plate appearances, while sophomores Sam Roberts and Graham Sullivan each contributed two hits and three RBI.
“I'm very proud of how well our kids played in such adverse conditions,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “After they took a lead, we put up a six-spot in the second inning, which set the tone for the rest of the day. Graham Sullivan had a huge day at the plate, he got us going with a three-run home run to give us the lead. A.J. Yoder was the table-setter for us today, and you can't ask more of Jordan Ballard than to get on base every time he got to the plate. I was proud of how our offense produced in these conditions.”
Keydet starter Travis Smink (2-2) took the decision for VMI, working seven innings, surrendering only a pair of unearned runs on four hits while striking out a season-best eight. The loss fell to junior Chris Powell (1-2), who allowed 10 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits in four innings.
“I can't speak highly enough of the job Travis Smink did for us in this game,” continued Ikenberry. “He was really amped up to take the ball today on opening day in the conference, and he pitched really well without his best stuff to get through seven innings. Andrew Deal came in and had a great eighth inning, then ran into trouble in the ninth, so we brought in Adam Kruithof to get the last out. Overall, I was really proud of our effort today. The field was really slick, but it didn't stop us from doing what we needed to do.”
VMI jumped on top 1-0 in the first, as Ballard's base knock into left field plated Jacob Morley, who notched a pair of steals to reach third base. The Blue Hose then moved on top 2-1 in the bottom of the frame, when Jared Combs' two-bagger to right field brought home a pair of unearned runs.
The Keydets rallied in the second inning, sending 11 men to the plate in a six-run frame. Sullivan put the Keydets in the lead for good with his home run to right-center field, before back-to-back-to-back two-out knocks from Tanner Biagini, Ballard and Roberts gave the Keydets a 7-2 cushion.
Following a pair of walks in the bottom of the second, Smink settled in to retire the next 10 in a row. A single by cleanup hitter Kenny Bryant broke the string with one out in the sixth, but Smink countered to induce a double play to send the game to the seventh.
By that point, the Keydets had already tacked on another big inning, with a five-spot in the fifth. Two-run singles by Yoder and Roberts were accompanied by a wild pitch that scored Sullivan to account for the Keydet runs.
The teams traded late runs, with VMI scoring an unearned run in the seventh, when Brian Sandridge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, before Sandridge hit a solo home run in the ninth. The Blue Hose then added a pair in the bottom of the ninth. Keydet reliever Andrew Deal loaded the bases with two outs, then hit the next batter before issuing a walk. Adam Kruithof then came on to record the final out.
VMI and Presbyterian wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon, with a doubleheader scheduled for noon at the PC Baseball Complex.
