NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. ? VMI pounded out 18 hits to score an 11-5 win in game one before starter Jesse Cadenhead hurled his first career complete game to lead CSU to a 7-2 win in game two of a Big South doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Buccaneer Ballpark.
The Bucs (12-15, 7-4 Big South) have now won three of their four Big South series this season, while splitting the other against Liberty. The Keydets (11-14, 5-3 Big South), meanwhile, dropped their first conference series of the season, after a 9-5 loss in 10 innings on Friday to CSU.
VMI jumped on top with a four-run second inning in game one, when Justin Topping broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double, followed by a two-run single from Tanner Biagini and an infield single for another run by Sam Roberts. The Bucs answered with a two-run rally in the third, sending eight men to the plate without the benefit of a hit to bring the margin to 5-2.
The Keydets extended the lead in the fourth, as Alex Haitsuka's single through the left-side plated a pair. CSU cut the lead to 7-4 with single runs in the fifth and seventh, but VMI exploded for four more runs in the eighth, with the big hits coming on Biagini's two-run home run and back-to-back RBI singles from Jacob Morley and Brian Sandridge.
Senior Chris Henderson (2-2) picked up the win for VMI, working seven-plus innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on just five hits. Andrew Deal came on to work the eighth inning, surrendering only a hit, before Sam Roberts struck out the only three batters he faced in the ninth to escape a bases-loaded jam to end the game.
“I was really proud of how we extended the lead and how we played offensively in game one,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Chris Henderson did an outstanding job to get us deep into the game.”
CSU starter Charlie McCready (0-3) took the loss, working five innings while surrendering seven runs on 12 hits. Keith Hustedt worked the final four innings for the Bucs, allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits.
VMI was led at the plate in game one by Biagini, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored, while A.J. Yoder, Morley and Topping each chipped in three hits, including Topping's first career home run, a solo job in the third.
Cadenhead (2-2) was the story of game two. The sophomore right-hander struck out a career-best 12 in CSU's first CG of the year, allowing two runs on eight hits. Cadenhead faced no more than four batters in each of the first six innings, and never allowed a runner to touch second base until CSU enjoyed a 7-0 lead in the seventh.
“In game two, the bottom line was that their pitcher was really good and kept us at bay for all 27 outs that he threw,” said Ikenberry. “You have to tip your cap to Jesse Cadenhead and the job that he did.”
The Bucs plated a pair in the first inning off of Keydet starter Jeremy Brown (1-5), as Tyler Thornburg's single into right field chased home Scotty Radabaugh and Patrick Dolan. Brown's day ended with one out in the third, when an apparent arm injury forced him to the dugout. Michael Devine came on to work the next 2.1 innings, surrendering single runs in the fourth and fifth.
CSU built on their lead in the sixth, pushing across three runs off of reliever Adam Lopez. A Kory Morian base knock plated one run, before Mark Perry brought the advantage to 6-0 with a double into left-center field. Perry later scored the only unearned run of the game on a throwing error on a steal attempt at second base.
The Keydets tacked on runs in the seventh and ninth to spoil Cadenhead's shutout. VMI loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but ended up only scoring a single run on Topping's deep flyout down the right field line. Sandridge then doubled home Roberts in the ninth to cap the scoring at 7-2.
CSU was paced offensively in game two by Dolan, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Tyler Thornburg and Perry each went 2-for-4. Roberts' 3-for-4 performance in the contest included both runs VMI scored. Sandridge was the only other Keydet with more than one hit off of Cadenhead.
The Keydets return to action on Tuesday evening, traveling to Richmond to take on VCU at 7 p.m.
