LEXINGTON, Va.- Evan Stehle's base knock into center field plated Ryan Metzroth from second base as Richmond knocked off VMI, 2-1, in 11 innings at Gray-Minor Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Brian Alas (1-0) picked up the win by working three perfect innings for the Spiders, who improved to 12-5 with their third win in extra innings in five days. Sam Roberts (1-2) took the loss for the Keydets (10-12), who suffered their first loss in three extra-inning games this year. Reliever Matt Zink earned his first save of the year by striking out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect bottom of the 11th.
The Spiders jumped on top in the sixth without the benefit of a hit, when back-to-back errors put a pair of runners on to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the pair into scoring position, before Mike Mergenthaler's sacrifice fly into right field plated Cameron Brown. That spelled the end of the night for Keydet starter Adam Kruithof, who did not allow a hit through his 5.2 innings, striking out four while walking three.
The Keydets matched that run in the bottom of the sixth, as Roberts was issued a lead off walk by Richmond starter Brian Farrell. A walk and a stolen base moved him to third base, as he scored on Brian Sandridge's single.
The Spiders spoiled the Keydets' no-hitter effort to lead off the seventh, when Ryan Mallory's flare into shallow center field fell in, despite the best efforts of shortstop Steele Myers. Richmond, however, left pinch-runner Robby Massar stranded, and proceeded to leave a single runner on base in the eighth and ninth inning as well.
VMI's best scoring opportunity the rest of the way came in the eighth, when Roberts reached on a leadoff single. Roberts was left stranded at third base, however, as the final 12 Keydet batters of the contest were retired in order by Alas and Zink.
Of the nine combined hits in the contest, none went for extra bases. Roberts and Sandridge each had a pair of singles for VMI, the only players in the contest with multiple hits.
Reliever Andrew Deal came on to work 3.1 shutout innings for VMI, striking out five while allowing two hits. The Keydets have now gone 2-2 in the past four games, despite allowing just five earned runs.
VMI returns to action on Friday afternoon, playing the first of a three-game set at Charleston Southern at 2 p.m.
